Canada warm to expand co-op with Azerbaijan

By Azernews

Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev on Wednesday received a Canadian delegation led by Deputy Speaker of the House of Commons Barry Devolin, AzerTac state news agency reported.

Devolin, who heads a delegation visiting Azerbaijan, said it was his second visit to Azerbaijan, adding that he had witnessed great development processes in the Azerbaijani capital Baku since his last visit.

During the meeting, the parties said there was vast potential for expansion of relations in the fields of economy, politics and inter-parliamentary cooperation.

The Azerbaijani President and the Canadian Deputy Speaker stressed the importance of reciprocal visits in terms of strengthening ties between the two countries.

They also discussed prospects for Azerbaijan-Canada cooperation.

On the same day, Deputy Chairman of the ruling Yeni (New) Azerbaijan Party (NAP) Ali Ahmadov held discussions with members of the delegation, which represents the Conservative Party of Canada, in the party's headquarters.

Ahmadov said at the meeting that Azerbaijan is interested in close cooperation with Canada in various fields.

He also said organization of mutual visits creates suitable conditions for deepening the relations between the two parties.

According to him, the relations between the NAP and the Conservative Party of Canada have existed for a long time and are developing.

Devolin, who also chairs Azerbaijan-Canada inter-parliamentary friendship group, in turn said that during the visit, the delegation would hold a number of meetings and discuss bilateral relations. He also noted the rapid development of Azerbaijan.

The meeting was also attended by member of the House of Commons Vladislav Lizon, Senators Yonah Martin and Salma Ataullahjan and NAP Deputy Executive Secretaries Mubariz Gurbanli and Siyavush Novruzov.

Speaking to journalists, Barry Devolin pointed out that Canada is interested in comprehensive expansion of cooperation with Azerbaijan.

According to him, Canada wants to cooperate with Azerbaijan in various fields and increase bilateral trade turnover.

"We want to develop the cooperation with Azerbaijan in the energy sector. Canada is a country that produces electricity and we have companies which produce energy technology. In addition, Canada has broad experience in agriculture and food production. We want to develop cooperation with Azerbaijan in this sector as well. Canada is also interested in boosting the trade turnover with Azerbaijan," Devolin said.

The Canadian delegation also visited the Alley of Honors and paid tribute to the memory of the national leader Heydar Aliyev, laying a wreath on his grave. The delegation also paid tribute and laid flowers on the grave of prominent ophthalmologist, academician Zarifa Aliyeva. Then the delegation visited the Alley of Martyrs.

The visit was jointly organized by the Embassy of Azerbaijan in Canada, New Azerbaijan Party and the Azerbaijani Parliament.

The delegation will also meet with Speaker of the Azerbaijani Parliament Ogtay Asadov and hold roundtables with political parties, as well as attend a parliamentary meeting on Friday. The visit will end on Sunday.

Canada recognized the independence of the Azerbaijan Republic on December 25, 1991 and diplomatic relations between the two countries were established on August 10, 1992.

The trade turnover between Azerbaijan and Canada totaled $16.75 million in 2011. Azerbaijan exports crude oil and oil products to Canada and imports meat products, paper, optical and measuring instruments, machines and equipment from this country.