Today, the Presidents of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev and Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev held one-to-one talks and chaired the second session of the Supreme Bilatreal Council in Baku, the Uzbek presidency press service said.
The parties reportedly discussed the ways to strengthen the Uzbek-Azerbaijani friendship, strategic partnership and alliance ties, as well as to expand the cooperation in priority areas.
Shavkat Mirziyoyev stressed that the current state visit and the second session of the Supreme Bilateral Council were taking place in the year of the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries.
“Never in history have our relations been at such a high level as now,” the Uzbek leader emphasized.
The two leaders stressed the dynamic development of multifaceted cooperation at all levels. In the Year of Economic Cooperation, the bilateral trade between the countries increased by 25%. The project portfolio reached $4 billion. There are about operating 300 bilateral ventures.
The leaders agreed to continue cooperation at the level of parliaments, governments, ministries and provinces and reiterated the importance of mutual support within international structures.
The presidents explored the possibility of increasing the volume of trade and investment to $1 billion annually and stressed that a separate cooperation program is being adopted, which will include projects in industry, infrastructure, agriculture, healthcare, tourism, banking and other areas.
The heads of state emphasized the importance of expanding the activities of the joint investment company and supported new formats of cooperation, such as the Council of Entrepreneurs and the Forum of Industrial and Economic Zones.
The presidents also focused on the partnership in the field of transport and communications and discussed projects for participation in the development of the Middle Corridor and stressed the growth in the transportation of Uzbek goods through this corridor by 25% - more than 1 million tons. In addition, since March of this year, the transition to electronic permits for cargo transportation has been ensured.
An agreement was also reached to expedite the preparation of a joint project for the export of electricity to Europe.
The parties decided to hold a number of joint cultural and youth events this fall to celebrate the anniversary of diplomatic relations in a dignified manner.
The heads of state also exchanged views on the international and regional agenda.
They also heard reports from the co-chairs of the intergovernmental commission, the ministers of transport, energy and culture on the agenda of the negotiations.
In November 2024, the presidents of Uzbekistan, Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan signed an Agreement on strategic partnership in the transmission of green energy between the three countries. Azerbaijan will lay a cable along the bottom of the Black Sea to connect Central Asia, the Caucasus, Europe, the Caspian and Black Seas with a single energy corridor. In December, the operators of the main power grids of Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan created a joint venture to implement the project.
