IRNA � Military and defense cooperation between Iran and Azerbaijan will enhance more than before, said the chief of staff of the Iranian Armed Forces on Wednesday.

'Azerbaijan is among the most important neighbors of Iran, which is also of great significance to Iran due to historical, religious, and linguistic proximity,' Major General Mohammad Baqeri told the Islamic Republic News Agency correspondent in Heydar Aliyev International Airport in Baku.

Major General Baqeri said the aims of his visit to Baku are defense and security related and also expansion of the collaborations between the two nations.

He said that this is the first visit by such a high-ranking military delegation to the Republic of Azerbaijan.

'This shows the closeness of stances and deep cooperation of the two countries,' he added.

The two-day visit is made at the official invitation of Azerbaijan's defense minister.

During his stay, General Baqeri is to visit the country's Defense Minister Zakir Hasanov, Prime Minister Novruz Mammadov and Parliament Speaker Ogtay Asadov.

This is the fifth visit of the chief of staff of the Iranian Armed Forces to a regional country in the past two years. The Iranian general had already visited Russia, Turkey, Syria and Pakistan.

Arriving in Baku, General Baqeri and the accompanying team was welcomed by Ali-Akbar Ojaqnejad, Iran's Supreme Leader's Representative in Azerbaijan, Javad Jahangiri, Iran's Ambassador to Azerbaijan Republic, and a group of Azeri military officials.