On October 23, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, who arrived in Kazan to take part in the BRICS Summit, was met by the Rais (Head) of Tatarstan Rustam Minnikhanov at the Kazan International Airport.

Azerbaijan’s intention to join BRICS was announced in July this year. During the meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) a joint declaration on cooperation between Azerbaijan and China was adopted. This document stated Azerbaijan’s desire to join BRICS. The country submitted a corresponding application in August.