Azerbaijan-Uzbekistan relations hit new high, deputy PM says

Relations between Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan have reached their highest level in recent years, with bilateral ties evolving into a strategic partnership marked by alliance and eternal friendship, Azerbaijani Deputy Prime Minister Shahin Mustafayev said.

Speaking at an event in Baku dedicated to the 35th anniversary of Uzbekistan’s Independence Day, Mustafayev highlighted the rapid expansion of economic cooperation between the two countries, Caliber.Az reports per local media.

“If we talk about the pace of development of our economic relations, over the past five years, the volume of bilateral trade has tripled, while the overall portfolio of joint projects has exceeded $5 billion,” he said.

Mustafayev attributed the accelerated development of bilateral ties to the high-level political dialogue and close relations between Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev.

“Today, the high-level political dialogue, mutual trust and sincere friendship that have developed between Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev play a decisive role in the rapid development of our relations and their transition to a qualitatively new stage,” he stressed.

The deputy prime minister also described President Ilham Aliyev’s state visit to Uzbekistan on August 23–24 as another significant milestone in bilateral relations.

“During the visit, the third meeting of the Supreme Interstate Council of Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan was held. All major areas of bilateral relations were discussed in detail, and new goals for future cooperation were set. The most important and historic outcome of the visit was the signing of the Treaty on Eternal Friendship between the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Republic of Uzbekistan,” Mustafayev said.

He said the treaty would further consolidate the strategic partnership and allied relations between Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan while creating a foundation for the long-term and sustainable development of bilateral cooperation.

By Vafa Guliyeva