Azerbaijan seeks to further enhance cooperation with Kingdom

Azerbaijan is committed to improving economic cooperation with Jordan, to make it reach the same level as that witnessed in the political field, according to Azeri Ambassador in Amman Elman Arasli. During a press conference on Sunday, on the occasion of Azerbaijan's national day, which also coincides with its 20th independence anniversary, Arasli said the current level of economic cooperation between the two countries "does not meet the aspirations of the two sides". "The situation is getting better… the volume of trade between the two countries increased by at least 50 per cent last year, compared to previous years," the diplomat said, noting that the Kingdom and Azerbaijan have 40 agreements in the fields of the economy, politics and culture. Highlighting his country's stance vis-à-vis Arab causes, Arasli underlined Azerbaijan's support for regional peace, as well as the establishment of an independent Palestinian state. "Jordan and Azerbaijan have identical views in terms of Arab, Islamic and international causes, particularly the Palestinian issue," the ambassador said, underscoring the importance of visits between the two countries' leaders in exploring prospects for further cooperation to best serve the interests of the two nations. The first country to gain full independence from the Soviet Union in 1991, Azerbaijan witnessed major political, economic and cultural booms during the last two decades, but there is still much to be done. With around two-thirds of its territory rich in oil and natural gas, Azerbaijan is one of the top oil suppliers to Europe. It has also succeeded in other non-oil sectors, such as agriculture and industry, according to the diplomat. The 2009 capital of Islamic culture is also home to 43 theatres, 170 museums, 4,330 libraries and hundreds of musical education centres, in addition to becoming a hub for holding international conferences. "We are keen to enhance our relations with Arab and Muslim countries, for we share much of our culture and tradition," Arasli highlighted.