There are representatives of government offices, diplomats, and journalists.

Members of the delegation laid flowers at the monument to Heydar Aliyev, the national leader of Azerbaijan, in the square that bears his name.

Ramiz Azizov, Head of the Employment Agency of the Astrakhan region, and Ilya Toropitsyn, Deputy head of the Regional Agency for International Relations, attended the ceremony.

Gulnara Mammadzade, Deputy Director General of the Azerbaijani agency Trend, head of the Caspian Expert Club, said that the Caspian Media Forum is a significant event for the media of the Caspian countries.

"The Caspian Media Forum is a serious, fundamental platform for establishing professional communications, determining approaches for journalists and experts.

Together with the colleagues, we will look for answers to questions about further development of mass media, about building communications, and responding to the processes that are now in the modern world, and many others," she said.

Gulnara Mammadzade`s opinion is that Astrakhan is one of the leading media centers of the Caspian region.

"Our expectations from the Caspian Media Forum are high.

It opens up opportunities for establishing partnerships, exchanging experience, creating and generating joint projects, " the Azerbaijani journalist noted.

The media expert considers the agenda of the upcoming Forum to be relevant for the Caspian region.

In her opinion, it is especially important to understand the challenges and risks faced by the Caspian ecosystem, as well as to respond to them correctly.

The topic of digital transformation is very relevant.

"Here in Astrakhan, at various venues, journalists of the Caspian region will share their experience, reflect on the future of the profession, at various platforms," Gulnara Mammadzade said. "The value of the Caspian Media Forum held in Astrakhan is that it creates a platform for discussing topical issues on the political agenda, cooperation in different spheres.

This will help to convey to our readers, viewers and listeners the position of our states aimed at a stable political dialogue."