Putin, Aliyev discuss regional security in Moscow

Russian President Vladimir Putin and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev met at the Kremlin Palace, according to a statement from the Kremlin Palace.

During the public part of the meeting, Putin mentioned it was the 50th anniversary of the start of construction of the Baikal-Amur Mainline (BAM) railway, and noted that Aliyev's father, Heydar Aliyev, had managed the construction of this railway in the past.

Putin expressed his intention to meet with former railway workers, stating: "The efforts and work your father (Heydar Aliyev) put into the realization of this massive project, as well as the years he spent working on it, play an important role not only for Russia but also for the entire Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS). Many of our partners use this transportation connection."

Addressing the relationship between Russia and Azerbaijan, Putin stated: "Bilateral trade volume has exceeded 4 billion dollars. The value of Russian investments in the Azerbaijani economy is 6 billion dollars. The intergovernmental commission is working actively."

Putin emphasized the sensitivity of ensuring regional security.

Azerbaijani President Aliyev also mentioned the "North-South" international transportation corridor project, saying: "This is a project of global importance that unites our countries and partners, ensuring the security of freight transportation and developing commercial relations between many countries."

Discussing regional security issues, Aliyev highlighted Russia's key role in security in the Caucasus region.

Source: Newsroom