President: Iran Open to Close Cooperation with Azerbaijan
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Iranian President Hassan Rouhani reaffirmed his administration’s resolve to promote cooperation with the Republic of Azerbaijan, describing the South-North railroad project as a manifestation of worthwhile cooperation between the two neighbors.
An Azeri delegation led by Minister of Economic Development Shahin Mustafayev met with Rouhani in Tehran on Wednesday.
In the meeting, the president lauded the deep-rooted bonds between Tehran and Baku, which he said are based upon the will of the two nations, adding, “The Islamic Republic of Iran is determined to develop relations with the Republic of Azerbaijan as a friendly neighboring country.”
“Tehran-Baku relations have developed in different fields,” Rouhani said, adding, “One of the very valuable instances of national and regional cooperation between the two countries is the finalization of South-North rail project… that we hope would further deepen our relations.”
Highlighting the significance of cooperation between Iran and Azerbaijan in the transportation, energy, automotive and medicine industries, the president said, “Economic cooperation and joint ventures will serve the history and people of the two nations.”
Rouhani also appreciated his Azeri counterpart Ilham Aliyev’s efforts to develop relations between the two Muslim neighbors.
He expressed hope that bilateral relations would further grow in all fields of mutual interest with the work of the joint commission.
For his part, the visiting Azeri minister said, “Sending two Azerbaijani ministers for the Qazvin-Rasht and Astara Railway projects indicates that opening of this rail project is a very important part of the South-North Corridor.”
“There is no obstacle on the way of development of Baku-Tehran relations,” the president’s official website quoted Mustafayev as saying.
Rouhani on Wednesday inaugurated a railroad line connecting the city of Qazvin to the provincial capital of Rasht in northern Iran.
The new track is a major section of a railroad line dubbed the ‘Green Corridor’, which connects the Caspian Sea to the Persian Gulf.
The railroad line, stretching 164 kilometers, will be also extended to the port city of Anzali and further to the city of Astara in Iran and a border city with the same name in the Republic of Azerbaijan.
Iran has accelerated efforts in recent years to complete the sections of the international North-South Transport Corridor (NSTC) that pass through its territory.
The NSTC concept was formalized by India, Iran and Russia in 2000.
