WNAM REPORT: “Under President Ilham Aliyev’s leadership, Azerbaijan’s major energy and transport projects have become key to the country’s development and regional prosperity. These initiatives are also boosting Azerbaijan’s bilateral ties with various nations. A key goal of our foreign policy is to deepen relations with Central Asian countries, with Uzbekistan being especially significant”, stated Samir Valiyev, a member of the Milli Majlis of Azerbaijan.
“Azerbaijan’s relationship with Uzbekistan, one of Central Asia’s largest and fastest-growing countries, has been steadily growing, especially in recent years. Our republic engages actively with Uzbekistan both bilaterally and through multilateral platforms, such as the Organization of Turkic States and other international bodies. Long-standing national and cultural bonds, mutual political commitment, and societal aspirations connect the two nations. Although diplomatic ties were officially established on October 2, 1995, the friendship and brotherhood between the Azerbaijani and Uzbek peoples have historical roots. Their shared history, religious beliefs, and cultural values trace back to ancient times”.
The MP notes that the historic friendship and brotherhood between Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan grew stronger after both nations gained independence. Over time, these ties have developed to a high level. During independence, National Leader Heydar Aliyev played a key role in strengthening relations and fostering interstate cooperation. He held a deep affection for the Uzbek people. Today, the strong relationship reflects the lasting impact of his efforts, enhanced by President Ilham Aliyev’s successful policies. The 2022 inauguration of Heydar Aliyev Square in Tashkent, carried out during President Aliyev’s visit, symbolized the Uzbek people’s heartfelt respect for the great leader and their solidarity with Azerbaijan.
President Ilham Aliyev, who highly values strengthening friendship and brotherhood with Uzbekistan across all fields, signed the Declaration on Further Strengthening Strategic Partnership between Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan during his state visit on March 23-24, 2004. This document, which established the basis for strategic cooperation, reaffirmed both parties’ strong support for peacefully resolving the former Karabakh conflict and for implementing the relevant UN Security Council resolutions and OSCE decisions.
Uzbekistan has consistently supported Azerbaijan’s stance on the former Karabakh conflict. On March 14, 2008, it was the only Central Asian nation to back the UN General Assembly resolution “The Situation in the Occupied Territories of Azerbaijan”. Furthermore, during the informal summit of the Cooperation Council of Turkic Speaking States via videoconference on March 31, 2021, the President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev congratulated Azerbaijan on reclaiming Karabakh and achieving historical justice. The Mirzo Ulugbek Secondary School, a gift from the Uzbek people in Fuzuli with a capacity of 960 students, was inaugurated on August 23, 2023, and has become a symbol of brotherhood between Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan.
This suggests that the personal rapport between President Ilham Aliyev and President Shavkat Mirziyoyev significantly influences the strong development of relations between Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan. Their frequent meetings, not just during official visits but also at various international events, underscore this close connection.
Samir Valiyev said that President Ilham Aliyev, in an interview with the News Agency, stressed the importance of strong relations between the two nations. The interview underscores that both Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan are influential economies within the Turkic world. Situated along key transport corridors, our countries are also engaging actively in this sector. Thanks to President Aliyev’s strategic policies, Azerbaijan has established vital transport and logistics infrastructure and joined global transport networks. This progress helps boost freight movement from Central Asian countries, including Uzbekistan, via Azerbaijan.
Samir Valiyev highlighted that the recent progress in relations between Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan clearly shows our partnership is set to grow stronger. Currently, strategic and comprehensive collaboration across all sectors continues to expand and serves as a strong foundation for further bilateral development.
“In conclusion, relations between Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan, founded on shared origins and centuries of history, are now progressing quickly in accordance with modern realities. The agreements signed so far, such as the Declaration on Deepening Strategic Partnership, Expanding Comprehensive Cooperation, and the Treaty on Allied Relations, have established a strong legal foundation for this collaboration”.
Azerbaijan’s growing cooperation with Uzbekistan and other Central Asian nations significantly benefits our countries, peoples, and the entire Turkic world. We believe that, rooted in mutual trust and a long history of friendship and brotherhood, our relations will continue to strengthen, ultimately improving the well-being of our citizens. President Ilham Aliyev’s upcoming state visit to Uzbekistan is expected to boost these mutually beneficial relations.
