On April 6, in Baku, at the "Gulistan” Palace, commenced the First Azerbaijani-Russian Economic Forum “The Azerbaijani-Russian Trade-Economic Relations. The Tendencies and Prospects of Development”.

President of the Azerbaijan Republic Ilham Aliyev took part in the work of the Forum. The participants cheered the head of the Azerbaijan state.

Prior to the Forum, its participants have visited the Alley of Honors where they honored memory of the national leader, President Heydar Aliyev and laid flowers to his tomb. Then, they have visited the memorial complex in the Alley of Martyrs and laid flowers to the tombs of Shehids and on the «Eternal Fire».

In the Forum, organizers of which is the ministry of economic development of Azerbaijan, the Azerbaijani-Russian Chamber of Business Cooperation, embassy of Russia in Azerbaijan, the All-Russia Azerbaijan Congress, take part representatives of business circles of two countries, including the Azerbaijanis living in Russia, the state structures, including from regions of Russia.

With opening remarks, the Forum was addressed by the first vice-premier, the co-chair of the intergovernmental commission on economic cooperation between Azerbaijan and Russia from Azerbaijan side Abbas Abbasov. He has noted, that the idea of carrying out of the present Forum has been maintained by heads of Russia and Azerbaijan during the first official visit of President Ilham Aliyev to the Russian Federation in February 2004 and during the negotiations with President Vladimir Putin.

Then, minister of power and industry of Russia, the co-chair of the intergovernmental commission from the Russian side Victor Khristenko made speech.

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Then, documentary dealing with the visit of President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev to Russia in February current year was demonstrated.

At the Forum, also were delivering lectures by vice-president of the All-Russia Azerbaijan Congress, vice-president of “LUKoil Overseas” Oil Company Iskender Khalilov, governor of the Sverdlovsk region of the Russian Federation Eduard Rossel, chairman for CIS affairs committee of the Federation Assembly of the Russian Federation Vadim Gustov, chairman of the “Azneftkimyamash” SC Ali Garakhanov and others.

It was stated that the First Azerbaijani-Russian Economic Forum would have positive impetus on development of bilateral relations and serve welfare of the two peoples.

Final resolution on conclusions of the Forum was adopted.

Ambassador of Azerbaijan in Moscow Ramiz Rizayev, ambassador of Russia in Baku Nikolay Ryabov participated at the Forum.

Bilateral meetings in the frame of the Forum are due on 7 April.