Azerbaijan is opening a new chapter of cooperation with the European Union, the Azerbaijan President Ilham Aliyev said after a meeting with the head of the European Council Donald Tusk in Brussels. According to Aliyev, the area of transportation can be one of the most promising in cooperation between the countries of the Eastern Partnership and other European countries. "Azerbaijan has largely invested in the creation of the new railroad connection in the region," the president said, expressing hope that this new route, connecting Asia with Europe, will be in operation, and help shorten the time of moving cargoes by almost two times. According to Ilham Aliyev, intercultural dialogue is another important area of ​​cooperation. He recalled that Azerbaijan, as a member of the Council of Europe and the Organization of Islamic cooperation, is a natural, geographical and cultural bridge between civilizations.

Ilham Aliyev and Donald Tusk

Baku has already signed documents on strategic partnership with nine states of the EU, which can be a good basis for a future agreement between the EU and Azerbaijan. "Today is a remarkable day in the history of our cooperation, because we are opening a new chapter in our cooperation. I wish success to negotiators, and hope they will not lose time, start tomorrow and soon will present a document which will determine strategic cooperation between us for many years to come," President Aliyev said.

Ilham Aliyev and Rene van der Linden

He arrived in Brussels on the eve and on Sunday he met with the former president of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), chairman of the Netherlands-Azerbaijan Friendship Group, Rene van der Linden. Calling Rene van der Linden a friend of Azerbaijan, Aliyev recalled the country's fruitful cooperation with PACE in Baku during his leadership of the organization and praised his contribution to the establishment and development of cooperation between ADA University and Dutch Maastricht School of Management.

Ilham Aliyev and Federica Mogherini

Yesterday, Ilham Aliyev and the High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Vice-President of the European Commission Federica Mogherini, have had a working breakfast. Recalling her trip to Baku last year, Mogherini noted the significance of the cooperation with Azerbaijan for the European Union. She noted that the Southern Gas Corridor project, which plays the role in ensuring Europe's energy security and diversifying gas supplies, is of great importance to the European Union. Aliyev, in turn, said that the expansion of cooperation with the European Union is a good message for the region.

Azerbaijani President added that the realization of this project requires an investment of more than $40 billion. "Europe is our main investor, and Azerbaijan created a very good investment climate. More than 200 billion dollars have been invested in our economy since restoration of our independence 25 years ago," Aliyev said.

Ilham Aliyev and Jean-Claude Juncker

At the meetings with Aliyev, both the European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker and the vice-president of the European Commission for Energy Union Maros Sefcovic, noted that Azerbaijan and the EU enjoy beneficial cooperation in a variety of fields, including energy, security, environment, transport and other spheres. Maros Sefcovic expressed view that the visit of the President of Azerbaijan will be of great importance in terms of preparation, signing and implementation of a new agreement between Azerbaijan and the EU. Ilham Aliyev, in turn, said about the modernization of energy infrastructure in Azerbaijan, renewable energy production, stressed the expediency of cooperation with the European Union in this regard. They also discussed cooperation in the banking sector, in particular, with the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development and the World Bank.

Ilham Aliyev and Maros Sefcovic

At the meeting of the Azerbaijani President and the King of Belgium Philippe, Aliyev invited Belgian companies to participate in the development of Azerbaijan's economy.

Ilham Aliyev and the King of Belgium Philippe