Russia’s Putin, Azerbaijan’s Aliyev meet in Astana for SCO Summit

Russian President Vladimir Putin and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev met in Astana for the 24th Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Heads of State Summit hosted by Kazakhstan’s capital.

Alongside President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, they discussed bilateral relations and economic cooperation during their bilateral meeting before the summit.

Economic collaboration, growth

Putin expressed satisfaction with the volume of cooperation, highlighting significant trade and direct Russian investments in Azerbaijan’s economy, exceeding $4 billion and $4.5 billion, respectively. He also noted a 13% growth in the first half of the year and discussed infrastructure plans, particularly the North-South Transport Corridor, based on agreements signed with Azerbaijan in 2022.

Cultural Bonds, educational exchange

Putin also commended Azerbaijan’s support for Russian language education, with over 300 schools teaching Russian and fostering cultural exchange among youth. He emphasized the importance of these foundations for future bilateral relations.

Azerbaijan’s commitment to Russian language education

Aliyev affirmed regular meetings with Putin, underscoring the successful resolution of various issues. He highlighted the growing bilateral trade volume, with mutual payments in national currencies increasing and Azerbaijan’s exports to Russia exceeding 70%, and Russian exports to Azerbaijan around 50%.

Strategic partnerships, future projects

Aliyev mentioned ongoing energy initiatives and plans to expand the North-South Transport Corridor in Azerbaijan, echoing the success of the 2022 declaration and emphasizing their alliance over the past two years.