Baku, December 1, AZERTAC

President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev has received President of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan Mohammad Ashraf Ghani, who is on a working visit in Baku.

Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev welcomed Afghan President Mohammad Ashraf Ghani.

The Presidents posed together for photographs.

Then the heads of state held a meeting in an expanded format with the participation of delegations.

On behalf of the people of Azerbaijan and on his own behalf, President Ilham Aliyev congratulated Mohammad Ashraf Ghani on his victory in the elections, and wished him success in his activities. “This visit is a sign of our cooperation and friendship, and I`m sure that we will continue our cooperation in all areas,” said the Azerbaijani President. The head of state noted that the two countries enjoyed excellent political ties. President Ilham Aliyev said that Azerbaijan and Afghanistan have always supported each other in international organizations. “There are ample opportunities for economic cooperation, the trade is increasing, and there are good dynamics in this field.” Expressing hope that after this visit additional measures will be taken to enhance economic cooperation in trade, investment, energy and other fields, President Ilham Aliyev noted that educational cooperation between the two countries also was of great importance. “We are ready to actively cooperate in every field, because Afghanistan is our brotherly country and our peoples for centuries have lived in an atmosphere of peace and friendship," said the head of state. The President stressed the necessity of using all opportunities for a further expansion of cooperation between the two countries. President Ilham Aliyev expressed confidence that the visit of the Afghan President to Azerbaijan will yield good results.

President of Afghanistan Mohammad Ashraf Ghani expressed gratitude for the hospitality shown to him and the delegation. “First of all, I congratulate you on the occasion of Azerbaijan`s grandiose achievements,” said the President of Afghanistan. The Afghan President noted that the changes taking place in Azerbaijan under the leadership of President Ilham Aliyev were exemplary. Saying that Afghanistan wants to cooperate with Azerbaijan on various fronts, Mohammad Ashraf Ghani expressed his country`s desire to study reforms implemented in Azerbaijan in order to diversify economy. “I once again congratulate you as you made Azerbaijan`s oil based economy, a very rich and diversified economy,” said the Afghan President. Mohammad Ashraf Ghani hailed the Azerbaijani servicemen`s contribution to peacekeeping mission in Afghanistan. The Afghan President also thanked the head of state for Azerbaijan`s making investments in Afghanistan.

During the meeting, the parties exchanged views on the Armenian-Azerbaijani Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. The heads of state also discussed regional cooperation, as well as prospects for collaboration in investment, energy, construction, agricultural, educational, cultural and other fields.

Then President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev, President of Afghanistan Mohammad Ashraf Ghani and Chief Executive Officer of Afghanistan Abdullah Abdullah continued the talk at a tea table.