Iranian, Azeri officials call for progress in ties

Iranian Labor Minister Ali Rabiyee and Azerbaijan's Deputy Prime Minister Ali Hassanov, in a meeting on Tuesday, voiced readiness for widening and deepening of Tehran-Baku ties in all fields.
“Currently, the level of economic exchange between the two countries is $400-500mln, but this amount can be increased by furthering cooperation," the Iranian minister said.
“Iran and Azerbaijan have common cultural roots and there are plenty of areas for the two countries to cooperate," Rabiei further added.
“Iran has valuable experiences in providing health services and Azerbaijan is welcome to benefit from them,” said Rabiei, “currently, Iran is able to export health services to Persian Gulf states, as well.”
“The Republic of Azerbaijan has never sided with the West in sanctions against Iran, and we are hoping that an increase in bilateral cooperation would begin a new chapter in the two countries’ relations," Hassanov said for his part.
Hassanov, who arrived in Tehran on Monday, underlined the importance of Tehran-Baku relations and said, “Azerbaijan will place no restrictions on the expansion of ties with Iran, and Baku is determined to have an all-out cooperation with Tehran."
Earlier this month, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani and his Azeri counterpart Ilham Aliyev in a joint statement underscored the necessity for activating the two countries' Joint Economic Commission.
In a joint statement issued at the end of President Rouhani's visit to Baku at the time, the two countries called for the expansion of all-out cooperation, and underlined the need for activation of joint economic commission to help further boost economic and trade cooperation.
Based on the statement, Presidents Rouhani and Aliyev discussed avenues to bolster bilateral ties as well as the ongoing developments in the region and around the world.
The two sides called for further cooperation aimed at establishing sustainable stability and security in the region, it added.
According to the statement, further expansion of mutual relations in political, trade, economic, cultural and humanitarian arenas were stressed by the two.