Uzbekistan and Azerbaijan: stable friendship and reliable partnership

The Uzbek and Azerbaijani peoples have been closely linked for centuries by historical and cultural ties, common Turkic roots, similar traditions, language, customs and values. These factors serve as the foundation for sustainable dialogue and comprehensive mutual understanding between the two states, strengthening the atmosphere of trust and good neighborliness.

This year our countries celebrate the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations. Today, the relationship between Tashkent and Baku clearly demonstrates an illustrative example of cooperation between two fraternal countries. Moreover, with the signing of the Treaty on Allied Relations in 2024, they quickly reached the highest level of interstate interaction.

This was a logical continuation of a long-term path, during which the two countries managed to lay an unshakable foundation for a long-term and mutually beneficial partnership, and develop a large-scale legal framework numbering over 200 interstate, intergovernmental and interdepartmental agreements. Among the key ones: the Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation, the Declaration on Deepening the Strategic Partnership and Building Comprehensive Cooperation, the Treaty on the Establishment of the Supreme Interstate Council.

Undoubtedly, these achievements are based on political determination and the will of our leaders, who have raised the bar for bilateral cooperation year after year. Their regular contacts and personal, trusting relationships have become a powerful catalyst for the dynamic and progressive development of dialogue at all levels. Since 2017, heads of state have held 12 meetings, and the number of high-level visits has exceeded 150.

Such intensive and coordinated communication created a truly breakthrough impetus for joint work in a wide range of areas and allowed us to achieve breakthrough results in all key areas of cooperation.

Today, Uzbekistan and Azerbaijan continue to consistently develop an economic partnership that demonstrates stable and sustainable growth dynamics. Over the past 8 years, trade volume has increased 8-fold from $32 million to $253 million. The goal has been set to bring this figure to $1 billion. To achieve this goal, systematic efforts are being made to expand trade volumes, increase mutual investments and develop industrial cooperation projects.

Representatives of the business communities of the two countries are showing growing interest in establishing close economic ties. In recent years, the number of joint ventures has increased 5 times. Currently, there are over 240 companies with the participation of Azerbaijani capital operating in Uzbekistan. At the same time, the number of Uzbek companies operating in the Azerbaijani market has reached 70.

One ​​of the key areas of bilateral cooperation has become cooperation in the automotive industry. As part of a joint project between the Uzavtosanoat and Azermash companies, the production of Chevrolet cars has been launched on the basis of the Hajigabul Industrial Park. To date, about 9,000 cars have been produced.

In order to expand production capacity and taking into account the dynamic growth in demand for its products, construction of a second plant has begun. The commissioning of the new workshop will increase production volumes to 30,000 units per year and ensure the creation of over 1,200 new jobs. Deliveries are planned both to the domestic and foreign markets of Azerbaijan.

Using their resources and accumulated experience, Tashkent and Baku also launched textile and sericulture cluster projects in Azerbaijan, built on the principle of a full production cycle - from growing raw materials to deep processing and production of finished products.

In the same strategic area, joint initiatives to create cotton and dairy agro-industrial complexes, the construction of residential and tourist facilities, the development of modern logistics centers and the implementation of energy projects with an emphasis on “green” transformation.

An important instrument ensuring the sustainability and scalability of such joint work was the established Uzbek-Azerbaijani investment company with an authorized capital of $500 million. Today, with its participation, 15 large projects worth over $360 million are being implemented.

Such dynamics of economic interaction became possible, among other things, thanks to the consistent expansion of interregional ties, which are becoming sustainable and institutional in nature. A clear confirmation of this is the annual holding of the Uzbek-Azerbaijani interregional forum, which has opened a wide way for establishing twinning relations between major cities of the two countries - such as Bukhara and Lankaran, Termez and Bilasuvar, Namangan and Mingachevir, etc.

Currently, 11 cities of Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan have signed cooperation documents. Thus, we can confidently state that interregional partnership today plays not just a supporting role, but also acts as an independent mechanism that ensures the promotion of direct bilateral ties.

One of the central places in Uzbek-Azerbaijani cooperation is the development of cooperation in the energy sector between Uzbekneftegaz and SOCAR in the development of oil fields in Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan.

In parallel, the parties began the practical implementation of the Strategic Partnership Agreement Uzbekistan, Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan in the field of “green energy”, which provides for the creation of an international energy corridor connecting Central Asia with Europe through the territory of Azerbaijan. As part of this project, Uzbekistan plans to export up to 5 GW of green energy to European countries through the territory of Azerbaijan by 2030.

At the same time, the focus may be not only on the transfer of “green” electricity, but also on establishing joint cooperation in the construction of solar power plants and the production of components for renewable energy sources.

Uzbekistan and Azerbaijan also share similar views on the issue of forming an extensive system of transport and logistics corridors. This is due to the common desire to convert a strategic location into long-term economic benefits.

In this regard, joint participation in the implementation of logistics projects is considered by countries as an important factor in the growth of their economies. The global trend towards diversification of transport routes strengthens the unifying role of Azerbaijan between Central Asia and Europe. Today, Uzbekistan is actively increasing cargo transportation through the Azerbaijani infrastructure. Over the past 4 years, they have shown a 5-fold increase and at the end of 2024 amounted to more than 1 million tons of cargo.

At the same time, Uzbekistan's initiatives to develop transport connectivity, including the construction of the Uzbekistan-Kyrgyzstan-China railway, can connect Azerbaijan with China and the South Asian region.

Broad cultural and humanitarian ties are an important component of bilateral cooperation between Uzbekistan and Azerbaijan. And this is no coincidence. The entire diversity of Uzbek-Azerbaijani relations that has developed today is predetermined by the intersection of historical processes that have played a decisive role in the mutual enrichment of two cultures and the socio-economic symbiosis of peoples.

Holding days of culture and cinema, meetings of creative and scientific intelligentsia, on the territory of both states play a special role in strengthening humanitarian ties. Mutual respect for cultures, traditions and customs, the desire to understand each other’s spiritual essence and mentality are of great importance in Uzbek-Azerbaijani relations. Mutual interest in studying cultures is obvious.

A monument to the great Uzbek poet and thinker Alisher Navoi was erected in Baku. In Tashkent, the square where there is a monument to the outstanding poet, classic of Persian poetry Nizami Ganjavi, is one of the favorite places for residents and guests of the capital. Also, a large memorial complex of the national leader of the Azerbaijani people, Heydar Aliyev, erected in Tashkent in 2022, became a striking symbol of the strong friendship of our fraternal peoples.

Both states, located on the historical route “Great Silk Road”, have all favorable conditions for the development of the tourism industry. The parties are making significant efforts in this direction. Last year, additions and changes were made to the Agreement on Visa-Free Travel of Citizens of 1997, which made it possible to increase the period of stay in both countries without registration from 7 to 15 days.

Thanks to these advantages, the number of Azerbaijani guests visiting Uzbekistan increased from 10 thousand in 2022 to 18 thousand people in 2024. At the same time, the number of tourists from Uzbekistan to Azerbaijan has increased significantly from 11 thousand to 16 thousand visitors.

The achieved level of bilateral interaction in the field of education and training of young personnel deserves special attention. There are more than 40 cooperation agreements between the universities of our states, within the framework of which research work is carried out and experience is exchanged.

In particular, agreements were reached on opening a representative office of Samarkand State Medical University on the basis of Nakhchivan University. It is planned to implement joint master's programs in the field of oil and gas processing between the Tashkent Institute of Chemical Technology and the Baku Higher Oil School, as well as in the field of finance and business analysis between the Tashkent State Economic University and the Azerbaijan State Economic University.

An indicator of the fruitful cooperation between the two states in the field of education and science was the one held this year in Andijan, the first Uzbek-Azerbaijani forum of rectors of higher educational institutions. More than 70 heads of Azerbaijani and Uzbek universities discussed current issues in the development of higher education systems in the two countries. As a result of the conference, over 60 interuniversity agreements were signed.

In general, both countries are undoubtedly interested in further comprehensive promotion of mutually beneficial cooperation, strengthening coordination and interaction within international and regional organizations in order to contribute to the consistent and dynamic development of Uzbek-Azerbaijani relations.

In this regard, assessing the path traveled, one can view the future of Uzbek-Azerbaijani relations with optimism. This applies to the entire spectrum of interaction - political dialogue, economic ties, humanitarian and scientific cooperation.

Iroda Imamova,

Leading researcher

Institute for Strategic and Interregional research

under the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan