RIGA, July 17 (Xinhua) -- Latvian President Raimonds Vejonis said Monday the visit of Azerbaijan's President Ilham Aliyev to Riga, the capital of Latvia, will considerably promote exchange and strengthen friendship between the two countries.
He made the remarks at a joint news conference with his Azerbaijani counterpart at Riga Castle on Monday.
While the presidents of Latvia and Azerbaijan signed a declaration on strategic cooperation, ministers of the two countries signed agreements on cooperation in transport, construction supervision and education.
"This has been a very busy year, there have been exchanges of visits, good relations have been established not only between the heads of state, but also between the parliaments, governments and local authorities... All this allows to hope for new business projects and a growth of mutual trade," the Latvian president said after talks with Aliyev.
Vejonis also stressed Latvia's intention to step up transport cooperation with Azerbaijan, particularly on the North-South Transport Corridor.
Aliyev's meeting with Latvian Prime Minister Maris Kucinskis also focused on cooperation in transport, with the Latvian side calling for regular air traffic between Latvia and Azerbaijan. The Latvian premier expressed the hope of Latvia's national airline airBaltic to open a direct route between Riga and Baku and to advance cooperation with Azerbaijan Airlines.
A delegation of entrepreneurs who accompanied Aliyev on his visit to Latvia took part in a Latvian-Azerbaijani business forum which Riga hosted to promote business contacts between the two countries.
