Baku: President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev received a delegation led by Richard Ra‚¬Å¡¬¦¡i, Speaker of the National Council of the Slovak Republic. President Aliyev recalled meetings from his official visit to Slovakia last year, including a meeting with Richard Ra‚¬Å¡¬¦¡i.

According to Azeri-Press News Agency, President Aliyev commended the development of cooperation across various sectors and emphasized the role of interparliamentary relations in expanding bilateral ties based on mutual respect, friendship, and partnership. He highlighted the significance of Ra‚¬Å¡¬¦¡i's visit with a large delegation as a testament to the partnership between the two countries.

Richard Ra‚¬Å¡¬¦¡i expressed gratitude on behalf of the delegation and mentioned his appreciation for the reception. He recalled previous visits to Azerbaijan and mentioned his plan to visit Garabagh to observe restoration efforts and activities at Garabagh University in Khankendi. Ra‚¬Å¡¬¦¡i congratulated President Aliyev on achievements related to the peace agenda between Azerbaijan and Armenia.

President Aliyev expressed gratitude for the congratulations and noted measures taken by Azerbaijan to strengthen peace, including establishing trade relations with Armenia. He highlighted the strategic partnership between Azerbaijan and Slovakia and acknowledged Slovak companies' involvement in the reconstruction of Bash Garvand village in Aghdam.

During the meeting, the sides discussed cooperation within international interparliamentary institutions and explored expanding ties in fields such as economy, trade, energy, defense, education, and tourism. They noted the upcoming launch of direct flights between Baku and Bratislava, which is expected to enhance tourism and people-to-people contacts.