President Ilham Aliyev has granted an interview to the National Information Agency of Uzbekistan (UzA), addressing the current state and future prospects of the strategic partnership between the two nations.
The "Operative Information Center-OMM" presents the full text of the interview.
Question: Honorable Mr. President, Azerbaijan-Uzbekistan relations have developed dynamically in recent years and have reached the highest level of alliance. On the eve of your upcoming state visit to Uzbekistan, how do you assess the current state and development prospects of bilateral relations?
President Ilham Aliyev: Relations between the two brotherly countries—Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan—are based on a common history, culture, language, and moral values, as well as unity, solidarity, and the deep mutual respect that our peoples have maintained for centuries and passed down from generation to generation. Built on this solid foundation, interstate relations have entered a stage of unprecedented development in recent years, rising to the highest level—that of an alliance—and have acquired a completely new content.
The sincere friendship, mutual respect, and trust existing between the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan, my dear brother, the honorable Shavkat Mirziyoyev, and me play a special role in strengthening the Azerbaijan-Uzbekistan brotherhood, raising interstate relations to their current level, and developing our alliance. President Mirziyoyev's tireless and determined activities for the sake of brotherhood, unity, and alliance between our countries have earned him deep respect and sympathy in Azerbaijan.
As I have already noted, the political dialogue between our states is at a very high level. Undoubtedly, 15 regular mutual visits and close contacts at the highest level over the past five years create favorable conditions for the dynamic development and strengthening of these relations.
This is my third state visit to the brotherly country in the last five years and my seventh visit in total. I always feel great pleasure in visiting beautiful and unique Uzbekistan, and every visit has special significance for me. Traditionally, these visits take place in an atmosphere of exceptional hospitality, brotherhood, sincerity, and mutual understanding. What pleases me most during my visits to brotherly Uzbekistan is the country's rapid development in all fields in recent years. The construction of modern cities, the diversification of the economy, the implementation of large-scale infrastructure projects, and the attention paid to science, education, culture, and sports clearly demonstrate the country's high pace of development.
The comprehensive development and progress of the country under the wise leadership of the Uzbek leader, my dear brother, the honorable Shavkat Mirziyoyev, as well as the continuous strengthening of its international prestige and the significant successes achieved in all key sectors, arouse sincere respect and deep satisfaction. All this is the result of the President's well-thought-out policy, strategic vision, love for the Motherland, and effective state governance.
My state visit to Uzbekistan took place in August 2024, and the President of Uzbekistan paid a state visit to Azerbaijan in July 2025. The numerous documents signed during these bilateral visits, especially the "Declaration on Deepening Strategic Partnership" and the "Treaty on Alliance Relations," officially consolidated the natural alliance between our two independent, strong, and sovereign states. These documents further strengthened the legal and political foundations of the relations between our countries and opened new opportunities for the future development of our cooperation.
In addition, the Supreme Interstate Council, established in August 2023, has become an important institutional mechanism for deepening the strategic partnership and alliance relations between Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan. This platform serves to determine long-term cooperation priorities, promote new initiatives, and effectively coordinate interaction in various fields. The two meetings of the Council, already held in Tashkent and Baku, demonstrate the high pace of development of Azerbaijan-Uzbekistan relations, the consistency of political dialogue, and the determination of our countries for joint action calculated for the future.
Today, our political relations are further enriched by large-scale cooperation measures in the fields of economy, investment, industry, transport, logistics, energy, agriculture, education, science, culture, and humanitarian affairs. The projects being implemented not only combine the economic potential of our countries but also further strengthen the bonds of friendship and brotherhood between our peoples.
I am confident that the upcoming visit will also be of great importance in terms of further expanding comprehensive cooperation between our countries, implementing new joint initiatives, and strengthening our alliance relations.
Question: One of the important directions of Azerbaijan-Uzbekistan relations is economic and trade cooperation. What can you say about the achievements in this field?
President Ilham Aliyev: Our economic and trade cooperation has shown a rapid development dynamic in recent years. The trade turnover between Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan increased more than three times in 2025 compared to the previous year, reaching 795 million dollars. This is an excellent indicator. Furthermore, in January-May 2026, the trade turnover increased by 33 percent compared to the corresponding period of last year, reaching 144 million dollars.
The Azerbaijan-Uzbekistan Investment Company, established three years ago with a total capital of 500 million US dollars, has become an important platform for the development of investment cooperation between our countries. The company makes a significant contribution to the financing and implementation of promising projects in various sectors of the economy both in Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan.
In addition, the Intergovernmental Commission plays an important role in the development of relations in economic, trade, investment, and other fields. To date, 15 meetings of the commission have been held. At the last meeting recently held in Tashkent, the current state of Azerbaijan-Uzbekistan economic and trade cooperation, the achievements made, and future directions of development were discussed in detail.
Our cooperation in the energy sector is also actively developing. The "Neftegaztexnologiya" joint venture, created on the basis of Uzbekistan's OZLITINEFTGAZ institute and "SOCAR NIPI Nefteqaz," has been successfully operating in the oil and gas field since 2016. In addition, "Turan Energy AFEZCO," a joint venture between SOCAR and "Uzbekneftegaz" JSC created in 2024, exports high-pressure polyethylene produced by the "Azerikimya" Production Union to Uzbekistan.
Our cooperation in the field of green energy also continues. In 2025, the "Green Corridor Union" Limited Liability Company was established in Baku by the relevant energy authorities of Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, and Uzbekistan. This joint venture was created to coordinate the implementation of the Azerbaijan-Central Asia green energy corridor project, the export of renewable energy, and the possibilities of its transport via the bottom of the Caspian Sea.
An increase is observed in transit cargo between the two countries. In 2025, the volume of transport increased by 6.7 percent and reached 1.4 million tons. In January-June of this year, a 12.2 percent increase was recorded, and this figure amounted to 675 thousand tons.
A number of joint projects implemented with the Uzbek side make a significant contribution to the further expansion of economic cooperation between our countries and the creation of new development opportunities. The planting of a 100-hectare pomegranate orchard called "Friendship Garden" in the liberated Fuzuli district, as well as cooperation in the production of "Chevrolet" and "Isuzu" brand vehicles, can be specifically noted in this direction. For reference, as of July 13, 2026, a total of 10,720 "Chevrolet" brand cars and 275 "Isuzu" brand buses have been produced.
Currently, more than 130 commercial organizations with Uzbek investments are registered in our country, and they successfully operate in various economic sectors—industry, agriculture, construction, transport, and services. The activity of Uzbek companies in Azerbaijan is an indicator of mutual trust, a favorable investment environment, and a strong economic partnership between our countries.
The economic opportunities of Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan complement each other and open wide horizons for the creation of new cooperation formats. We support the more active participation of Azerbaijani companies in Uzbekistan and Uzbek companies in Azerbaijan, as well as an increase in the number of joint production and investment projects.
Azerbaijan is also implementing investment projects in Uzbekistan. Among these projects, one can mention the hotel and residential complex being built in Tashkent under the "The Ritz-Carlton" brand by "PASHA Holding," as well as the "Sea Breeze Uzbekistan" large tourism and residential complex in the Tashkent region.
I am confident that our economic partnership based on mutual benefit will continue to develop successfully, be enriched with new initiatives, and serve the well-being of our peoples as one of the important pillars of Azerbaijan-Uzbekistan alliance relations.
Question: In your opinion, what role does cultural diplomacy play in strengthening Azerbaijan-Uzbekistan interstate relations?
President Ilham Aliyev: Cultural and humanitarian cooperation, based on common roots, linguistic and cultural proximity, and moral values formed over centuries, is an integral and important area of relations between Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan. Cooperation in this field makes an important contribution to strengthening mutual understanding, trust, friendship, and brotherhood between our peoples, and enriches humanitarian ties with new content.
Thanks to the mutual efforts of our peoples and the joint support of our states, cultural and humanitarian ties have been developing successfully in recent years. Jointly held culture days, art festivals, scientific conferences, literary publications, and educational programs play a special role in strengthening the cultural and humanitarian agenda between the two countries.
In 2023 and 2025, Azerbaijan hosted Uzbekistan Culture Days, and in 2024, Uzbekistan hosted Azerbaijan Culture Days; in the same year, "Shusha Days" were held in the city of Khiva. A broad delegation from Uzbekistan participated in the Turkic World Week dedicated to the 100th anniversary of the First Turkological Congress held in Baku.
We are proud that one of the oldest and most prestigious higher education institutions of our brotherly country, the Uzbekistan National Pedagogical University, bears the name of the great Azerbaijani poet and thinker Nizami Ganjavi.
The "Uzbekistan" park, with an area of 5 hectares, which we laid the foundation for in the center of Baku last year together with my dear brother President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, will become another symbol of our brotherhood.
Initiatives and projects implemented by the Heydar Aliyev Foundation are of great importance in expanding cultural and humanitarian cooperation between the two countries.
Cooperation in the field of education acts as one of the leading areas of cultural-humanitarian partnership between Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan. In the 2025-2026 academic year, 67 citizens of Uzbekistan studied in Azerbaijan, and 176 citizens of Azerbaijan studied in Uzbekistan.
The secondary school named after Mirzo Ulugbek, built on the initiative of Uzbekistan and operating in the city of Fuzuli, is one of the brightest examples of cooperation in the field of education and is another manifestation of the brotherly relations between our countries. We express our sincere gratitude to the entire people of Uzbekistan and personally to President Shavkat Mirziyoyev for this noble initiative, as well as for the support shown in the restoration and construction works in our liberated territories.
In addition, cooperation in the media sector has been marked by significant results. The 1st Uzbekistan-Azerbaijan Media Forum was held in Tashkent on September 23-25, 2024, and the 2nd Azerbaijan-Uzbekistan Media Forum was held in Baku on September 29, 2025. The 1st Azerbaijan-Uzbekistan NGO Cooperation Forum was organized in Fuzuli in 2023, and the 2nd Uzbekistan-Azerbaijan NGO Cooperation Forum was organized in Tashkent in 2024. As a practical result of these forums, in 2026, the two brotherly countries announced a grant competition for NGOs together for the first time. Based on the results of that competition, winning projects from Azerbaijan will be implemented in Uzbekistan, and winning projects from Uzbekistan will be implemented in Azerbaijan.
An increase is observed in tourist visits from Uzbekistan to Azerbaijan. In 2024, 46 thousand, in 2025, 62 thousand, and in January-August 2026, 44 thousand citizens of Uzbekistan visited our country.
The successful development of interregional cooperation can be specifically noted. Sister city and partnership relations have been established between the cities of Baku-Tashkent, Ismayilli-Rishtan, Shusha-Khiva, Lankaran-Bukhara, Shaki-Kokand, Bilasuvar-Termez, Mingachevir-Namangan, Fuzuli-Gulistan, Guba-Jizzakh, and Beylagan-Shahrisabz. Establishing sister city relations between Nakhchivan and Urgench is planned in the near future. Sister city initiatives between Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan, which are one of the important platforms for cooperation that bring our peoples even closer, protect common historical, cultural, and moral values, and strengthen friendship and mutual trust between future generations, are particularly important today.
Thus, cultural-humanitarian cooperation between Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan is not only an important area of bilateral relations but also a future-oriented strategic humanitarian bridge that protects our common values, rich cultural heritage, and bonds of brotherhood between our peoples.
Question: Honorable Mr. President, Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan also cooperate effectively on international platforms. How do you assess this cooperation within the framework of the Organization of Turkic States (OTS), and what can you say about the prospects for the development of cooperation between Azerbaijan and Central Asian countries?
President Ilham Aliyev: The joint efforts of our countries to solve important issues in both bilateral and multilateral formats deserve high praise. The fact that the two brotherly countries—Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan—constantly support each other on all issues is a source of pride.
Cooperation between Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan within the framework of the Organization of Turkic States is of special importance. Last year, the 12th Summit of the Council of Heads of State of the Organization of Turkic States was held in Gabala. Key issues regarding cooperation within the organization were discussed, and declarations were signed with the aim of strengthening the OTS, ensuring closer unity in the Turkic world, increasing its political, economic, and military power, and turning it into a center of influence and power in the global arena.
Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan value the OTS not only as an interstate cooperation platform but also as an important unity that carries our common history, culture, and moral values into the future.
The contribution of Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan to the development of political dialogue, economic relations, transport and logistics opportunities, and cooperation in the fields of education, science, and culture-humanitarian affairs within the OTS serves to further deepen integration among Turkic states.
Our cooperation, especially our interaction in the field of transport and logistics, promises great prospects. The position of Azerbaijan in the South Caucasus and Uzbekistan in Central Asia makes our countries natural partners on important strategic routes connecting East and West. In this regard, the integration of the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan railway project with the Middle Corridor and TRIPP will create new economic and transit opportunities for the entire region.
Initiatives implemented by Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan in the direction of protecting and promoting the common Turkic heritage have unparalleled importance in terms of passing this great moral heritage to future generations.
Our countries also attach great importance to cooperation within the framework of other Turkic organizations. The acceptance of Uzbekistan as a full member of the Turkic Culture and Heritage Foundation in May 2025 was a significant event that aroused deep satisfaction. The accession of Uzbekistan, which possesses a rich historical heritage, ancient statehood traditions, and unique cultural values, to this Foundation will significantly expand cooperation opportunities in the field of protecting and promoting the common heritage of the Turkic world.
Thus, the active cooperation of our countries within the framework of the OTS, as well as other Turkic organizations, will continue to contribute to the closer integration of the Turkic world and the strengthening of its unified position in the international arena.
As for Azerbaijan's relations with Central Asian countries, it should be noted that in recent years, these ties have developed dynamically based on the principles of alliance, strategic partnership, and mutually beneficial cooperation. Historical and cultural proximity and common moral values constitute the solid foundation of existing relations between Azerbaijan and Central Asian states.
Azerbaijan attaches special importance to expanding political dialogue, deepening economic ties, increasing transport and communication opportunities, and developing cooperation in energy and humanitarian fields with Central Asian countries. In this regard, the Consultative Meetings of Central Asian Heads of State are one of the very important prestigious platforms for developing regional cooperation, coordinating interaction, and discussing joint initiatives.
At the 7th Consultative Meeting held in Tashkent in November last year under the chairmanship of Uzbekistan, a decision was made regarding the full-fledged participation of the Republic of Azerbaijan in the Consultative Meetings of Central Asian Heads of State. I once again express my sincere gratitude to the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan, as well as to the other heads of state of Central Asia, for the support they showed in this process.
As a result of Azerbaijan's active participation in this process, the cooperation format previously called "C5" has effectively turned into a "C6" format, and regional dialogue and strategic partnership have gained new content and scale.
Azerbaijan's full-fledged participation in this format demonstrates the strategic importance our country attaches to relations with Central Asia. The discussions held within the framework of the Consultative Meetings allow for further strengthening mutual trust among the countries of the region, identifying new areas of cooperation, and implementing important initiatives for regional development.
Also, Azerbaijan's participation in this format is an indicator of our country's contribution to the strengthening of interregional cooperation. The dialogue and cooperation mechanisms created within the framework of this platform serve not only the development of interstate relations but also the ensuring of peace, stability, and sustainable progress in the Eurasian space.
Thus, the comprehensive cooperation formed between Azerbaijan and Central Asian countries is an example of a strategic partnership built on mutual respect, trust, and common interests.
Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan also cooperate effectively in all international organizations and multilateral platforms of which they are members and participants, especially within the framework of the UN, OIC, OTS, Economic Cooperation Organization, CICA, and the Non-Aligned Movement.
Question: Honorable Mr. President, I thank you for the interesting and meaningful interview. On the eve of your state visit to Uzbekistan, what would you like to wish the brotherly people?
President Ilham Aliyev: Taking advantage of this wonderful opportunity, I would like to sincerely congratulate the brotherly people of Uzbekistan on the upcoming 35th anniversary of the country's state independence, convey my deep respect and best wishes, and wish them peace, tranquility, progress, and new achievements.
