Level of bilateral relations between Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan
Relations between the Uzbekistan and Azerbaijan distinguished by their special closeness, common historical and cultural background, Turkic ethnic and linguistic roots, a single religion and traditions that are deeply rooted since centuries.
Development of bilateral relations established when Heydar Aliyev and Islam Karimov took steps for the establishment of diplomatic relations between Uzbekistan and Azerbaijan on October 2nd, 1995.
The Embassy of Azerbaijan in Uzbekistan was opened in June 1997 during the official visit of Heydar Aliyev, and in July 1998 the Embassy of Uzbekistan was opened in Azerbaijan. Since then, there are economic and cultural foundation for bilateral contacts and relations.
President Shavkat Mirziyoyev and President Ilham Aliyev raised Uzbekistan-Azerbaijan relations to a great level. It created a platform for wide constructive relations and bilateral cooperation.
Uzbekistan and Azerbaijan are continuously developing cooperation in industry, agriculture, transport and other key industries.
On 14-15 October 2019 at 7th summit of the Organization of Turkic States an agreement was reached to diversify the activities of the joint intergovernmental commission and to organize mutual visits of delegations from two countries.
A new milestone in bilateral relations was the visit of the President of Ilham Aliyev to Uzbekistan on June 21st, 2022.
Both Presidents exchanged views for the expansion of the Uzbekistan-Azerbaijan various strategic partnerships including:
1. Agreement on the establishment of a joint Investment Fund in order to develop and promote promising cooperation projects in our countries.
2. 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 other countries.
On March 1st 2023, the President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev arrived in Baku at the invitation of the President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev, to participate in the summit of the Contact Group of the Non-Aligned Movement.
President Mirziyoyev expressed the idea of creating an international structure in Uzbekistan to study and monitor about natural disasters.
In August 2023, on the visit of President Mirziyoyev, both Presidents signed an agreement to establish the Supreme Interstate Council between Uzbekistan and Azerbaijan. 15 MOU’s were adopted at the level of states, governments, and agencies of the two countries. Among them is the Action Plan for deepening comprehensive strategic partnership for 2023-2024, the agreement on further deepening cooperation in the energy sector, cooperation in the youth policy and sports, and the Action Plan for developing cooperation in the media sphere.
On the occasion of the Independence day of Uzbekistan, President Ilham Aliyev sent congratulatory message to President Mirziyoyev including following lines:
1. Your active role and position in the processes taking place in the region enables Uzbekistan to host meetings and summits of the most prestigious international organizations at a high level.
2. “The open and active political dialogue between us, our high-level reciprocal visits, regular meetings, numerous signed documents, successful joint projects, including the activities of the Intergovernmental Commission, play an important role in determining the positive dynamics of our cooperation and identifying new partnership directions.
3. A few days ago, your state visit to Azerbaijan opened a new page in the history of Azerbaijan-Uzbekistan relations and gave a strong impetus to the comprehensive development of our strategic partnership.
In September 2023 at Dushanbe Summit the President of Uzbekistan highly praised the joint efforts to strengthen relations of trust, good neighborliness, and partnership between the region’s countries.
Mirziyoyev gave examples of successful partnerships in the production of passenger cars, household appliances, textiles, and food products, border zones of cooperation with Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Azerbaijan.
Conclusion
So, Uzbekistan and Azerbaijan relations have been at a very high level since independence. In recent years, the leaderships of Uzbekistan and Azerbaijan expanded this interaction in every possible way, filling it with the spirit of brotherhood and friendship.
It is because of wise and visionary policy of Presidents Shavkat Mirziyoyev and Ilham Aliyev, Uzbekistan and Azerbaijan relations have reached a qualitatively new level, which will be beneficial not only for Central Asian countries but also for the Rest of World.
