Russian President visits Azerbaijan, Baku says bilateral relations are at "high level of allied interaction"

On August 18, Russian President Vladimir Putin arrived in Baku, starting a state visit to Azerbaijan.

Russian President Vladimir Putin (left) and his Azerbaijani counterpart Ilham Aliyev had an intimate dinner on the evening of August 18. (Source: TASS)

According to TASS news agency, important official and working events are scheduled to take place on August 19. Mr. Putin will visit the Alley of Honor cemetery and lay a wreath at the grave of Azerbaijani leader Heydar Aliyev.

Afterwards, the Russian leader will visit the Alley of Martyrs cemetery and pay tribute to those who died for Azerbaijan's independence.

President Putin will hold an official meeting with his host counterpart Ilham Aliyev at the Zagulba Residence on the shores of the Caspian Sea, where the focus is expected to be on the current situation and prospects for further development of bilateral relations, as well as pressing issues on the international and regional agenda.

The two heads of state will hold private talks before a joint meeting with the delegations of both sides. According to the plan, the two sides will issue a joint statement and a number of state-level cooperation documents. After the talks, the two leaders will hold a press conference.

Azerbaijani Ambassador to Russia Polad Bulbul Ogly said that both presidents were prepared for an in-depth dialogue, affirming: "As of now, relations between Moscow and Baku are at a "very high level of allied interaction".

According to the diplomat, Moscow and Baku are considering opening a Russian Consulate General in Azerbaijan.

In late May, the head of the International Affairs Committee of the Federation Council (the upper house of the Russian parliament) Grigory Karasin said that Moscow and Baku were discussing opening a consulate general in Khankendi, formerly known as Stepanakert, which is the capital of the unrecognized Nagorny-Karabakh republic.

In December last year, the Russian Foreign Ministry announced that the country would soon open five consulates general – in Kapan (Armenia), Aktau (Kazakhstan), Samarkand (Uzbekistan), Denpasar (Indonesia) and Male (Maldives). The ministry also spoke of plans to open embassies in Burkina Faso and Equatorial Guinea.

Source: https://baoquocte.vn/nga-thong-cong-du-azerbaijan-baku-noi-quan-he-hai-ben-dang-o-muc-tuong-tac-dong-minh-cao-283120.html