December 23, The Iran Project - President Hassan Rouhani's Chief of Staff Mahmoud Vaezi arrived in Baku on Thursday ( Dec. 21) to participate�in an international conference, titled �2017 � Year of Islamic Solidarity: Interfaith and Intercultural Dialogue�.

Vaezi's trip to Baku features meetings with Azerbaijan Republic's President Ilham Aliyev, his Azeri counterpart Ramiz Mehdiyev, Azeri Communication Minister�Ramin Guluzade and addressing the closing ceremony of the conference.

In the meeting with Aliyev, Vaezi, stressed the importance of the tripartite economic cooperation of Iran, Turkey and Azerbaijan, and their decision to let private sector play a part in enhancing cooperation among them.

Vaezi emphasized the need to strengthen Iran-Azerbaijan banking relations and develop oil cooperation in the Caspian Sea, as well as to accelerate joint projects, including the joint railway network.

Aliyev, for his part, appreciated the active participation of Iranian delegation in the Islamic Solidarity Conference in Baku, saying �today, the Islamic Republic of Azerbaijan and Islamic Republic of Iran have common positions in many regional and international issues, and are working to strengthen Islamic unity and solidarity.�

President of the Republic of Azerbaijan stated "in the current situation, it is necessary for the Islamic countries like Iran and Azerbaijan to further increase their relations and develop their bilateral and multilateral cooperation.�

Talking to Mehdiyev, Vaezi assessed Iran-Azerbaijan relations and cooperation as developing and said �fortunately, today we witness the development and the operationalization of joint agreements and projects including building an automobile factory in Azerbaijan and promoting cooperation in the fields of energy, transportation and transit, industry and commerce.�

He noted the use of national currency to boost Tehran-Baku relations, adding��we must use capacities and capabilities in both countries to promote economic and commercial ties and we need to endeavor to identify new areas of cooperation.�

For his part, Mehdiyev highlighted the close ties between the two countries and called for an all-round development of relations and collaboration between Tehran and Baku.

Mehdiyev highlited the intention of Azerbaijan for creating a more modern cultivation industry and urged Iranian economic, agricultural and industrial experts for support.

Talking to�Guluzade, Vaezi�aid that relations between the two countries are growing in various spheres while emphasizing the necessity of enhancing the ties in aerospace, IT, transit, postal services and telecommunication.

Referring to the agreement by Iran and Azerbaijan on facilitating the postal services and issuing a joint stamp as a symbol of friendship, Vaezi said that Tehran and Baku can establish and enhance trilateral or quadrilateral relations with other countries such as Turkey and Russia to expand their cooperation.

The Azerbaijani minister, for his part, echoed Vaezi on the IT relations between the two neighboring countries and said that boosting joint activities is a priority for Baku.

Welcoming the idea of enhancing multilateral cooperation, he said that Azerbaijan is planning to build a fiber optic project that crosses Iran.

Addressing the meeting, Vaezi said Trump�s decision to recognize Al-Quds (Jerusalem) as Israeli regime's capital and the US veto in recent UNSC meeting indicate American anti-Islamic, anti-Palestine policies.

He added that it must be clear to everyone that the United States is seeking to create divisions within the ranks of the Islamic countries in favor of Israeli illegitimate interests.