Russia and Azerbaijan have outlined guidelines for joint work, with energy cooperation and the development of transport links being a priority, Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexey Overchuk said at the 23rd meeting of the intergovernmental commission on economic cooperation between the two countries, in Astrakhan, Russia, TASS reports.

"We have outlined guidelines for further joint work," Overchuk said. "The relations between Russia Azerbaijan are mutually beneficial. Among our priorities are joint work to develop transport connectivity in the region, strengthening an independent financial architecture in mutual settlements, interaction in the energy sector, expansion of industrial partnership, including in the area of shipbuilding and agriculture, and cooperation in the Caspian Sea."

Russia is confidently among Azerbaijan’s top three trading partners, he noted.

"Our country accounts for 10% of the total foreign trade turnover of the Republic of Azerbaijan," the official said, adding that "around 1,800 companies with the participation of Russian capital are represented on the Azerbaijani market."

The share of calculations under foreign trade contracts in the trade of goods between Russia and Azerbaijan amounted to 79.8% in May, the Russian deputy PM noted.

“In mutual trade, we confidently rely on national currencies,” Overchuk emphasized. “In May 2025, the Russian ruble prevailed in the calculations under foreign trade contracts in the trade of goods between the residents of Russia and Azerbaijan. Its share amounted to 79.8%.”