President Rouhani: North–South Transport Corridor connects Europe to Persian Gulf

The International North–South Transport Corridor included shipping lanes, railway and land roads for carrying freight between India, Russia, Iran, Europe and Central Asia.

Rouhani made the remarks in joint meeting with Azeri President Ilham Aliyev and senior officials in Baku, according to IRNA.

In the meeting, President Rouhani described Iranian-Azeri relations as very friendly, brotherly. 

Affinities of the two nations should leave positive impacts on restoration of peace and stability of the entire region. 

He called for decrease of commercial tariffs to ease trade between the two countries.

Vicinity of countries in the Euro-Asia, the Caucasus and mainly Azerbaijan is of prime importance and all should be utilized for free trade, he said.

The international North-South Corridor can link the Caucasus region, Europe and Persian Gulf littoral states, he said. 

Environment of Caspian Sea should be safeguarded, President Rouhani said adding that Iran calls on the secretariat of the Caspian Sea Environment Agency in Baku to undertake the task to protect the environment.

The Islamic Republic of Iran and Azerbaijan are to broaden cooperation in energy sector as well as Caspian Sea legal regime as both governments call for expansion of all-out relations and cooperation.

The two countries should examine grounds for investment in tourism as well as expansion of airlines cooperation, President Rouhani said. 

Terrorism threatens all countries, President Rouhani said adding that bolstering joint cooperation in fight against terrorism is very important. 

'We should not let that a group of ill-wishers to publicize lie, violence and terror in the name of Islam to the youth and the idea should be eradicated from the entire region, ' he said. 

With reliance on the regional cooperation, it will be possible to fight against terrorism in the Middle East region to help bring peace, stability and calmness to the entire region, he said. 

Iran attaches importance to protection of borders and territorial integrity of the neighboring states, he said. 

The Islamic Republic of Iran spares no efforts to promote peace, stability, and security in the region, President Rouhani said.

Iran, Russia and Azerbaijan should move forward to broadening trilateral cooperation, he said. 

Azeri President Ilham Aliyev, for his part said the Islamic Republic of Iran is a good friend for Azerbaijan and Baku calls for an all-out relations with the country which leaves positive impacts on the region.

Good relations between Iran and Azerbaijan at international organizations indicated depth of amicable ties between the two nations, he said. 

It is expected that cooperation between Iran, Azerbaijan and Russia to develop as Iran and Azerbaijan have already taken required action to attain the goal, he said.