On 21 June, 2022, at the invitation of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev arrived in Uzbekistan on a state visit.

The Prime Minister of Uzbekistan Abdulla Aripov and other officials met the distinguished guest at Tashkent International Airport.

A street named after Heydar Aliyev opens in Tashkent

 

The state visit of the President of Azerbaijan began with the opening of a street named after Heydar Aliyev and a commemorative bas-relief in the city of Tashkent.

The ceremony was attended by the President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev and the President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev.

Addressing the audience, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev expressed his respect to the National Leader of Azerbaijan and the entire fraternal Azerbaijani people.

“There is a deep meaning in the fact that President Ilham Aliyev’s state visit to Uzbekistan began with a solemn opening ceremony of a street named after the national leader of the Azerbaijani people, a great friend of the Uzbek people, Heydar Aliyev.

He went down in history as an outstanding politician and statesman of the XX century, the architect of independent Azerbaijan. Thanks to the firm determination, strong political will and exceptional leadership qualities of Heydar Aliyev, the young sovereign state has overcome all difficulties and trials”, the President of Uzbekistan said.

The President of Uzbekistan highlighted the huge contribution of the national leader of Azerbaijan to the consistent strengthening of friendly relations between the two countries and the historical ties of the two fraternal peoples.

In turn, the President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev, noting that this is his first foreign visit after the pandemic, expressed gratitude to the President and the people of Uzbekistan for the constant attention and care to preserve the good memory of Heydar Aliyev.

“I am very grateful to my dear brother Shavkat Miromonovich for the initiative to create such a beautiful corner in the center of Tashkent dedicated to the memory of Heydar Aliyev, my father. We see in this the truly fraternal attitude of our Uzbek brothers towards our great leader, our common history. It is also a respect for the entire Azerbaijani people”, the Azerbaijani leader said.

Representatives of the intelligentsia, the older generation and the Azerbaijani diaspora in Uzbekistan also addressed the event. They stressed that the well-maintained street and the square named after Heydar Aliyev are a vivid symbol of the unbreakable friendship between the two fraternal peoples.

About 40 thousand Azerbaijanis live in Uzbekistan. The Association of Azerbaijani Cultural Centers was established in 2003. In 2010, a new building of the Azerbaijani Cultural Center named after Heydar Aliyev was opened at the Embassy of Azerbaijan.

The President of Azerbaijan, accompanied by the President of Uzbekistan, visited the Yangi O’zbekiston (New Uzbekistan) Park and laid flowers at the Independence Monument.

 

A solemn meeting of Azerbaijan’s President

 

 

On June 21, the official welcoming ceremony of the President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev, who arrived in Uzbekistan on a state visit, took place at Kuksaroy Residence.

A guard of honor was lined up in honor of the President of Azerbaijan on the square decorated with the national flags of the two countries.

President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev welcomed the distinguished guest.

The heads of the two states took the podium. National anthems of Uzbekistan and Azerbaijan were played.

The leaders of the two countries greeted the guard of honor.

The ceremony was attended by members of the official delegations of Uzbekistan and Azerbaijan.

 

 

 

Uzbekistan, Azerbaijan Presidents hold a meeting in a contracted format

 

 

President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev and President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev held a meeting in a contracted format at Kuksaroy Residence.

The heads of state exchanged views on the further expansion of the multifaceted strategic partnership between Uzbekistan and Azerbaijan.

The dynamic development of bilateral cooperation was noted with satisfaction. The trade turnover between the two countries has been steadily growing in recent years. The number of joint ventures has increased 4 times.

The launching of an enterprise for the assembly of Uzbekistan’s cars in Azerbaijan in September 2021 became one of the successful joint projects. During the business forum held on the eve of the visit, new investment and trade agreements worth more than half a billion USD were signed.

To further enhance trade-economic cooperation, Uzbekistan and Azerbaijan leaders discussed the prospects of industrial cooperation in the oil and gas, gas chemical, textile industries, pharmaceuticals, wine and food industries in the territory of the two countries.

The main attention was paid to the development of cooperation in transport communications. The importance of developing multimodal transport corridors and optimizing tariffs for cargo transportation was noted.

The Presidents of the two countries noted the importance of cooperation in the development of interregional cooperation, holding joint business and cultural events, and increasing tourist exchange.

The heads of state also exchanged views on the international and regional situation, discussed issues of continuing intensive dialogue and mutual support within multilateral structures.

 

 

 

Uzbekistan, Azerbaijan delegations hold talks in an expanded format

 

 

President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev and President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev held talks in an expanded format with the participation of delegations from the two countries.

President Shavkat Mirziyoyev noted that Azerbaijan is a close friend and time-tested reliable strategic partner of Uzbekistan.

The two countries share a common religion, spiritual values, similar traditions, language and culture.

Shavkat Mirziyoyev expressed deep satisfaction with the achieved level of mutually beneficial cooperation, strengthening friendship and mutual understanding between the two countries. He confirmed his commitment to further building up the strategic partnership between Uzbekistan and Azerbaijan and filling it with new practical content.

The President of Uzbekistan noted that it is necessary to use the existing huge potential for cooperation, and the factors of complementarity of the economies of the two countries.

It was proposed to increase the trade turnover, expand industrial cooperation, implement several projects in machine-building, electrical engineering, textile, wine-making, food, construction, oil and gas, petrochemical, pharmaceutical, agro-industrial and other industries. An agreement was reached to create a joint Investment Fund to develop and promote promising cooperation projects in both countries.

The importance of the implementation of joint projects in free economic zones located on the territory of the two countries for the export of products to the markets of third countries was also noted.

Measures will be taken to improve efficiency using the transport communications system, including the Baku – Tbilisi – Kars railway. A special working group will be created under the leadership of the ministers of transport to timely remove obstacles to bilateral trade and transit of goods.

Agriculture is another promising area of cooperation. Noting the available opportunities, the relevant ministers were instructed to agree on an action plan for creating a silk production cluster, promoting projects in cotton growing, and introducing innovative developments.

Direct interregional ties play an important role in enhancing multifaceted cooperation. The parties agreed that shortly the capitals and major cities of the two countries will establish partnerships. The President of Uzbekistan proposed to hold the first Forum of Regions and an exhibition of their industrial potential in Tashkent this year.

It was noted that the expansion of cooperation in tourism will also serve to further strengthen business and humanitarian ties. The Presidents supported the adoption of a program and holding of a joint tourism fair.

During the talks, several other agreements were reached aimed at strengthening cultural and humanitarian ties, in particular, on holding the Culture and Film Days, and strengthening contacts between universities, scientific institutions, sports and youth organizations.

 

 

 

Presidents of Uzbekistan and Azerbaijan sign Declaration on deepening strategic partnership

 

 

The ceremony of signing documents took place following the fruitful talks held in Kuksaroy.

Presidents Shavkat Mirziyoyev and Ilham Aliyev signed a Declaration on deepening strategic partnership and building up comprehensive cooperation between the Republic of Uzbekistan and the Republic of Azerbaijan.

18 documents were also signed between the governments, ministries and agencies of the two countries in the presence of the heads of state. These are agreements on cooperation between regions, in the field of industry, international road transport, the fight against illegal migration, quarantine and plant protection, military and military-technical cooperation, as well as a cooperation program in tourism.

The documents are intended to contribute to deepening practical cooperation in several promising areas of interaction between Uzbekistan and Azerbaijan.

 

 

 

Presidents note key areas of interaction

 

 

Presidents of Uzbekistan and Azerbaijan held a briefing for media representatives.

The President of Uzbekistan, sincerely welcoming the Azerbaijani delegation, noted that the glorious history of relations between the two peoples has created a solid foundation for the development of multifaceted cooperation.

“We have common spiritual values, religion, similar culture and language”, Shavkat Mirziyoyev said. – Many cities of Azerbaijan, where the mutual influence of eastern and western civilizations took place, are mentioned in the scientific works of Ahmad Fergani and Abu Reyhan Beruni. And the funds of the Institute of Oriental Studies carefully store dozens of unique manuscripts of Azerbaijani poets and thinkers, such as Nizami, Khagani, Tusi, Fizuli, Khatai and others.

This is another evidence that the Uzbek people have been treating Azerbaijani culture with great respect and interest for centuries, the Leader of Uzbekistan emphasized.

“At meetings in a narrow and expanded format, we discussed in detail the issues on the bilateral agenda. The talks once again demonstrated that we are ready to further strengthen interaction in every possible way in the interests of our people. A solid package of documents has just been signed. Among them is the Declaration on deepening strategic partnership and building up comprehensive cooperation, which opens a new stage in bilateral relations. We have also identified key areas of interaction”, Shavkat Mirziyoyev said.

It was noted that the most important priority in cooperation is to increase trade and industrial cooperation. In recent years, the trade turnover has grown significantly. The number of joint ventures and projects has quadrupled.

The parties are sure that there are ample opportunities for a cardinal intensification of interaction, primarily the factor of complementarity of economies.

An example of this is the launch of joint production of cars in Hajigabul and the expansion of cooperation in sericulture. Dozens of new projects are being worked out in the mining industry, petrochemistry, pharmaceuticals, the production of building materials, finished textiles, food products, jewelry, and winemaking.

Another strategic direction is the development of transport communications. Today, the volume of cargo transportation is increasing, including the Baku – Tbilisi – Kars railway. The parties agreed to develop new corridors, increase multimodal transportation, and create favorable conditions for transport companies.

Against the backdrop of growing climate challenges and food security issues, the main attention was paid to the issues of further development of cooperation in agriculture. It was decided to actively share scientific and innovative developments, establish interaction on the digitalization of the agricultural sector, and implement investment projects.

The main attention at the talks was paid to the intensification of interregional ties. Holding the First Forum of Regions in Tashkent this autumn will serve their deepening.

The two countries and peoples have had a lot in common since ancient times in the cultural and humanitarian sphere. Following the talks, a decision was made to hold mutual Culture and Film Days, and to actively develop humanitarian and tourist exchange programs.

“The results of the historic state visit of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan are truly breakthrough. Today we have formed all the conditions for further strengthening the friendship of the two fraternal peoples and deepening the strategic partnership of our countries”, the President of Uzbekistan emphasized.

President Ilham Aliyev, expressing gratitude for the invitation, noted that he rejoices in the success of Uzbekistan.

“I am very pleased to visit fraternal Uzbekistan, to have the opportunity to discuss with you a wide range of bilateral relations and important issues on the foreign policy agenda”, Ilham Aliyev said. – I think this is a breakthrough visit. Because both, in essence, the form, and content of the topics discussed, according to the decisions we have reached, this visit and agreements will become the basis for the future development of our relations.

The signed documents and the fulfillment of today’s tasks will lead to the fact that relations between our countries will become even stronger, the Azerbaijani Leader said.

“Today we talked about economic interaction, contacts between business structures, security and defense issues, and strengthening cultural and humanitarian ties. That is, in a broad sense, the foundation is being laid for our active interaction”, the President of Azerbaijan said.

The heads of state noted the constructive nature of the dialogue and the importance of mutual support within the framework of international structures.

 

 

Guests from Azerbaijan get acquainted with Uzbekistan’s products

 

 

President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev, accompanied by the President of Uzbekistan, got acquainted with the activities of the Technopark in Tashkent.

During the talks at Kuksaroy Residence, the main attention was paid to enhancing industrial cooperation between the two countries. Free economic zones and technoparks in Uzbekistan are a favorable platform for this.

The Technopark in Tashkent hosts 17 projects worth $365 million. To date, 13 projects have been completed, within which the production of electronic gas meters, refrigerators, industrial air conditioners and cooling systems, elevators and escalators, water pumps, accessories for doors and windows has been launched. These products are strengthening their positions in regional markets, as they are produced under the control of foreign brands.

Companies for the production of insulating products, water heating equipment, kitchen appliances, as well as a logistics center will be put into operation this year.

The President of Azerbaijan and the guests were informed about the advantages of the products manufactured here.

The heads of state instructed the relevant agencies of the two countries to work out joint projects, take measures to enhance industrial cooperation and trade.

 

 

Uzbekistan, Azerbaijan Presidents plant a tree together as a symbol of new aspirations

 

 

President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev and President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev planted a tree on the Alley of Honored Guests at Kuksaroy Residence.

Large-scale and thorough preparations took place for this visit. Worthy results have been achieved. A solid foundation has been laid for future cooperation between the two countries.

The tree planted by the heads of state will grow stronger as a symbol of these aspirations and the friendship between our peoples.