site.btaBulgarian Vice President Iotova Meets with Azerbaijani President Aliyev, First Lady

Bulgarian Vice President Iotova Meets with Azerbaijani President Aliyev, First Lady

Baku, May 7 (BTA) - Bulgarian Vice President Iliana Iotova, who visited Azerbaijan to attend the 4th World Forum on Intercultural Dialogue (May 4-6), delivered a letter from Bulgarian President Rumen Radev to Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev on the occasion of the 25th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries. Iotova expressed her conviction that bilateral cooperation will deepen in future, the Bulgarian President's Press Secretariat said on Sunday.

Aliyev pointed to the active dialogue and fruitful cooperation between the two countries in energy and cultural exchanges and noted first lady Mehriban Aliyeva's active involvement in the restoration of Trapezitsa Hill in Bulgaria's medieval capital Veliko Turnovo as a prerequisite for further deepening of these exchanges. "Good relations with Azerbaijan are appreciated in Bulgaria, and I am convinced that they will be advanced," Iotova said.

On Saturday, the Vice President attended the inauguration of an Azerbaijani-Bulgarian Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Baku, which will be working for an expansion of relations between entrepreneurs of the two countries. Azerbaijani Deputy Economy Minister Sahil Babayev noted the great potential for an improvement and deepening of two-way trade and bilateral economic relations. Bulgaria's Ambassador in Baku Maya Hristova, representatives of the Azerbaijan Export and Investment Promotion Foundation (AZPROMO) and officials of Azerbaijan' Ministry of Economy attended the ceremony.

On Sunday, Iotova delivered a lecture at the Baku Slavic University to Bulgarian studies faculty and students. "Differences bring us together rather than drive us apart. We can be free and have a future only if we are together," the Vice President said. "I am proud that so many people here study my people's language, history and culture," she added.

Iotova conferred with the leadership of the Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences. The sides discussed opportunities for cooperation and exchange of young researchers.