Heart of Asia summit: MJ Akbar meets Azerbaijan's President

Minister of State (MoS) for External Affairs M.J. Akbar, who is participating in a two-day 'Heart of Asia' - Istanbul Process 7th Ministerial Conference, on Thursday met with President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev in Baku.

The two leaders underlined the importance of the Ministerial Conference on the sidelines of the 'Heart of Asia' - Istanbul Process in terms of the strengthening of regional cooperation and increasing international support for Afghanistan.

'Heart of Asia' - Istanbul Process 7th Ministerial Conference is being held on November 30-December 1.

"On behalf of the Prime Minister, leadership and people of India, I congratulate you on the stability and development that your country achieved under the Azerbaijani national leader Heydar Aliyev's and your leadership," reported local media, citing Akbar as saying to President Aliyev.

The 'Heart of Asia' - Istanbul Process is an important regional platform for political dialogue and close regional cooperation aimed at promoting stability, peace and prosperity in the Heart of Asia region, and for enhancing Afghanistan's connectivity with the entire region.

The participating countries are Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, China, India, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Russian Federation, Saudi Arabia, Tajikistan, Turkey, Turkmenistan, the United Arab Emirates, and the United Nations.