OREANDA-NEWS. July 07, 2009. Azerbaijan is interested in expanding production cooperation with Belarus, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev said as he met with Prime Minister of Belarus Sergei Sidorsky in Baku, reported the Official website government.by.

Ilham Aliyev expressed satisfaction with the development of the bilateral relations and stressed that the two countries are willing to develop them, to integrate and expand cooperation. He praised the practice of setting up joint productions and urged to apply this experience in other areas.

Having emphasized the importance of cooperation during the global financial and economic crisis, Ilham Aliyev expressed hope that the visit of the Belarusian Prime Minister will give a new impetus to the development of bilateral relations.

Sergei Sidorsky conveyed greetings to the President of Azerbaijan from Belarusian head of state Alexander Lukashenko. Owing to the thoughtful policy outlined by the heads of state, the cooperation between Belarus and Azerbaijan has been increasingly vibrant despite the global financial crisis, Sergei Sidorsky said.

In turn, the President of Azerbaijan asked Sergei Sidorsky to convey his greetings to the Belarusian head of state.

In 2007 the two countries launched several joint projects in manufacturing cooperation. Truck and tractor assembly facilities were opened in Azerbaijan. The Belarusian technologies were used to restore the optical and mechanical works. Mobile drilling equipment based on MZKT chassis are now manufactured in Azerbaijan. The two countries are considering launching new assembly productions of Belarusian auto-cranes, lifts, medicines, window frames, and dairy products.

In March 2007 the intergovernmental Belarusian-Azeri commission for trade and economic cooperation held the fourth session on the level of prime ministers. The session adopted the action plan to implement the programme of long-term social and economic cooperation between the Republic of Belarus and the Republic of Azerbaijan until 2015.

In May 2007 the Republic of Belarus held its first national exhibition in Azerbaijan.

In May 2008 Minsk played host to the fifth session of the intergovernmental Belarusian-Azeri commission fro trade and economic cooperation.