BAKU, August 13 (Itar-Tass) - Russian President Vladimir Putin has arrived on a one-day working visit in Baku for talks with Azerbaijan's leader Ilkham Aliyev. The two countries are expected to sign half a dozen documents.
"The signing ceremony will take place after the talks. Five or six bilateral agreements have been in the works," Yuri Ushakov, an aide to the Russian president, said.
He did not specify the documents but mentioned that some of them related to the energy sphere.
The Kremlin noted consistency in the development of cooperation in this field. In 2012, Azerbaijan supplied 1.55 million cubic meters of natural gas to Russia. In January through June 2013, Russia purchased 0.88 billion cubic meters of gas from Azerbaijan. There are more than 500 Russian companies operating in the republic.
Bilateral cooperation has been successfully developing in other areas. "Azerbaijan is traditionally one of the most important Russian partners in the Commonwealth of Independent States /CIS/. Bilateral interaction includes intensive political dialogue and active trade, regional and cultural ties," Ushakov noted
Bilateral trade has been increasing in a stable trend: it grew by 10.8 percent to 3.4 billion dollars in 2012. In January through May it grew by 40 percent.
"Russia is Azerbaijan's leading foreign trade partner," the aide said.
The countries are expanding parliamentary cooperation, their foreign ministries closely interact, regional ties are becoming stronger, and cooperation in the field of education is developing at a good rage. "During the talks, the presidents will consider preparations for the 3rd international humanitarian forum in Baku on October 31-November 1," Ushakov said.
Also,the two leaders will touch upon the key issues of international and regional agenda, the legal regime of the Caspian Sea and the settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.
During the Baku summit, Caspian Fleet warships will make a friendly call to the Baku port. The leaders are expected to visit one of the warships.