India seeks to strengthen its friendly relations with Azerbaijan says Sushma Swaraj; 18th NAM Ministerial Conference kicks off
Azerbaijan, April 5: “India seeks to consolidate and strengthen its friendly relations with Azerbaijan,” said External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj during a press conference along with Azerbaijan counterpart on Wednesday. EAM Sushma Swaraj got clicked for the group photo of 120-member strong Non-Aligned Movement before kicking off the 18th NAM Ministerial Conference in Baku.
After calling on Azerbaijan President Ilham Aliyev on Wednesday, EAM Sushma Swaraj said the two countries were committed to strengthening ties in a range of issues including trade and investment, connectivity and transportation, culture and tourism etc.
On Wednesday, two agreements were signed between two nations: visa waiver for diplomatic, official and service passports holders and cooperation between diplomatic training institutes.
While addressing the press conference with Azerbaijan, EAM Swaraj said that "we noted with satisfaction that India-Azerbaijan bilateral trade has increased substantially from around US$ 50 million in 2005 to around US$ 460 million in 2017."
Also today the 18th NAM Ministerial Conference kicked off, where more than 800 delegates from 120 member countries, 17 non-member countries and 110 international bodies are taking part in the two-day conference.
India and Azerbaijan enjoy warm and friendly relations based on historical and cultural ties. Our countries share the values of democracy, respect for plurality and multiculturalism. Our cultural exchanges over the ages have led to close cultural affinity and shared traditions.The historical monument of ‘Ateshgah’, that was used as a place of worship by Hindus, Sikhs and Zoroastrians, is a testimony of our shared culture, the press statement said.
EAM Swaraj is on her 3-day visit to Azerbaijan, with an effort to boost bilateral relations between India and Azerbaijan. NAM plays a crucial role in the preservation of world peace. The 1st ever summit of the Movement of Non-Aligned Countries was convened by the leaders of India, Indonesia, Egypt, Syria and Yugoslavia. The movement played a fundamental role in extending support to nations which were struggling for their independence and provided unity in their times of need.