April 26--Around one million tourists from Azerbaijan will visit Iran by late 2013, Iranian Ambassador to Azerbaijan Mohsen Pakayin told journalists on Friday.

He said at present, relations are being developed in the field of tourism between the two countries, mainly in the field of medical tourism.

The ambassador said the opening hours of the border checkpoints has been increased to 12 to simplify border crossing between Azerbaijan and Iran.

As for the work conducted within the North-South railway project, Pakayin said Iran is currently working on the Rasht-Astara (Iran) railway project. This railway is very important from the point of view of relations between Azerbaijan and the Persian Gulf.

The Rasht -- Astara (Iran) -- Astara (Azerbaijan) railway line construction project is of great importance for the development of the international North -- South transport corridor. The commodity market is estimated at 25-26 million tons by 2015. A significant part of the North -- South corridor stretches along Russian rail routes.

Creating a direct rail link to the west coast of the Caspian Sea can significantly affect the growth of transportation in the region and become a good stimulus for the expansion of foreign economic relations of these countries with European countries.

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Tags: Mohsen Pakayin

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