Moscow keeps issues of the settlement between Yerevan and Baku in its sights, Russian President Vladimir Putin said at a meeting with his Azerbaijani counterpart Ilham Aliyev in Astana.

 "Naturally, we always keep issues related to the settlement of the situation in the region in our field of vision. I hope we'll use this opportunity to have another talk on all these issues and synchronize our watches."

According to him, Russia remains one of the leading trade and economic partners of Azerbaijan. "The trade turnover is growing: last year it increased by, I think, 14%, this year it increased by more than 7% during the first seven months. Our economic operators have invested $4.5 billion in the Azerbaijani economy.

Co-chairs of the Intergovernmental Commission meet regularly and work is going on on the plan proposed by you, which is designed up to, I think, 2024 inclusive, on a number of promising and interesting projects you suggested," Putin said.

Aliyev, in turn, assured that Baku is set up for "long-term peace." "We are set up for long-term peace and, for our part, we believe that we have proposed quite constructive theses for the peace to be finally achieved," he said.