"Relations between Azerbaijan and Saudi Arabia are reflected in the mutual visits of high ranking officials,” said Rasim Rzayev. He said Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev was in Saudi Arabia recently at the invitation of King Salman.

He said Aliyev reaffirmed his country’s strategic ties with Saudi Arabia during the visit. "I urge my Saudi friends to increase trade and economic relations as part of our mutual cooperation,” he said.

Riyadh Gov. Prince Faisal bin Bandar and several diplomats attended the national day celebrations, which falls on May 28.

Rzayev said that his country has remained strong thanks to its policy of tolerance and coexistence. He said Azerbaijan, a Muslim country that has strong connections with Europe, was the first democracy in the Muslim world when it was created in 1918.

On the sidelines of the event, he noted the participation of Iyad Ameen Madani, secretary general of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, at the Third World Forum on Intercultural Dialogue in Baku from May 18 to 19. He said Madani was among the keynote speakers on the main theme of the forum.The event, which was attended by the Azerbaijan president, was held in partnership with the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations, and the Islamic Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization. More than 100 countries took part.

The envoy also called for the peaceful resolution of his country’s dispute with Armenia based on international law.