TEHRAN – Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov has described Tehran-Baku relationship as brotherly and friendly, calling for the expansion of bilateral ties.

He made the remarks in his address to the 8th meeting of Iran-Azerbaijan economic cooperation committee in Tehran on Monday.
Mammadyarov said that the two countries have had good energy cooperation over the past years and plan to sign new energy contracts.
The Azerbaijani foreign minister proposed plans aimed at facilitating bilateral trade like opening new border crossings along the common border between Iran and Azerbaijan.
He also highlighted the importance of railway building projects and said that rail transport can lay the groundwork for enhancement of commercial and economic cooperation between the two countries.
Iranian Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi also made a speech at the meeting, saying that Iran is Azerbaijan’s reliable neighbor and Azerbaijan is Iran’s permanent partner.
Iran attaches great importance to its relationship with Azerbaijan and tries to realize the potential for promotion of bilateral ties through holding meetings and exchanging visits, he stated.
He proposed that the regulations governing the trade between the two countries be revised to facilitate bilateral transactions.
Salehi said that joint energy, commercial and industrial committees should also be set up to explore ways for expansion of economic ties.
He added that the efforts made in the areas of energy and transportation are not enough and the two countries should push ahead joint projects for construction of power lines, power plants, railways, and roads.
The Iranian foreign minister proposed the establishment of a joint shipping company in the Caspian Sea, saying such a move can stimulate the growth of economic cooperation between the two countries.
Elsewhere in his remarks, he highlighted the importance of establishing good relations between the Iranian and Azerbaijani banks and called for launching special credit lines between these banks.
On the ways to reduce the negative effects of the global economic crisis on the regional economy, he said that the regional countries can overcome the problems created by the global crisis through boosting regional cooperation.