At the Gyulistan Palace in Baku, President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliev and his wife Mehriban Alieva held an official reception in the honor of RF President Dmitry Medvedev and his wife Svetlana Medvedeva, reported AzerTAc.

The Russian and Azerbaijani leader delivered speeches.

President Aliev said Azerbaijan and Russian established effective cooperation in political, economic and other spheres, and the documents to be signed during the Russian leader’s visit will play an important role in bilateral relations.

He stressed that the Russian-Azerbaijan trade increased despite the grave consequences of last year’s crisis. Aliev pointed out Russia’s role in the Nagorno-Karabakh peace process. He underlined effective bilateral humanitarian cooperation, which is an important factor in bilateral relations.

In his speech, President Dmitry Medvedev called Azerbaijan Russia’s strategic partner, pointing out that the documents to be signed during the visit will consolidate friendship and the bilateral legal basis. The Russian leader stressed Russia and Azerbaijan established close economic cooperation, pointing out the importance of security in present-day world. He stated Russia will continue to actively participate in the Nagorno-Karabakh peace process.

NEWS.am reminds readers that the Russian President was on a visit to Armenia August 19-21. According to him, Armenia is Russia’s strategic partner.

Five Russian-Armenian agreements were signed during the visit. The Russian leader visited the Memorial to Armenian Genocide victims and laid a wreath. Dmitry Medvedev also participated in the opening ceremony of the Hill of Honor in Gyumri.