Aliyev says Uzbekistan is developing at a rapid pace

Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.uz) — Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev said Uzbekistan has been developing at a rapid pace, highlighting the expansion of bilateral relations, trade and economic cooperation, energy projects and interaction within the Organization of Turkic States. He made the remarks in an interview ahead of his state visit to Uzbekistan, UzA reported.

According to Aliyev, relations between Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan have reached their highest level in recent years — that of allied relations.

He noted that the two countries had held 15 mutual high-level visits over the past five years. The upcoming trip will be his third state visit to Uzbekistan in five years and his seventh visit overall.

Aliyev recalled that during visits in 2024 and 2025, the two countries signed a declaration on deepening strategic partnership and a treaty on allied relations. The Supreme Interstate Council between Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan has been operating since 2023.

On trade and economic cooperation, Aliyev said bilateral trade turnover more than tripled in 2025 from the previous year, reaching US$795 million. In January-May 2026, it increased by 33% year on year to US$144 million.

He also mentioned the Azerbaijan-Uzbekistan Investment Company, established three years ago with capital of US$500 million, and the work of the Intergovernmental Commission, which has held 15 meetings.

Aliyev also spoke about cooperation in the energy sector, including the Neftgaztexnologiya joint venture, which has been operating since 2016, as well as Yaşıl Dəhliz Birliyi, a company established in 2025 to implement the Azerbaijan-Central Asia green energy corridor project.

According to Aliyev, transit cargo between the two countries increased by 6.7% in 2025 to 1.4 million tonnes. In January-June 2026, transit volumes rose by 12.2% to 675,000 tonnes.

He also noted that more than 10,700 Chevrolet vehicles and 275 Isuzu buses had been produced in Uzbekistan as of 13 July 2026. Azerbaijani investment projects are also being implemented in Uzbekistan, including the construction of The Ritz-Carlton hotel in Tashkent by PASHA Holding.

Aliyev separately highlighted cultural and humanitarian cooperation, including cultural days held by the two countries, media forums, forums of non-governmental organizations and the launch in 2026 of a joint grant competition for NGOs.

He also noted an increase in the number of Uzbek tourists travelling to Azerbaijan, from 46,000 in 2024 to 62,000 in 2025 and 44,000 in January-August 2026. He also mentioned twinning ties between several cities of the two countries.

On multilateral cooperation, Aliyev stressed the importance of the 12th summit of the Council of Heads of State of the Organization of Turkic States, held in Gabala. He also highlighted Azerbaijan’s participation in the format of consultative meetings of the heads of state of Central Asia, which took place at the seventh meeting in Tashkent in November 2025. According to Aliyev, this effectively expanded the “C5” format into “C6”.

At the end of the interview, Aliyev congratulated the people of Uzbekistan on the upcoming 35th anniversary of the country’s state independence and wished them peace, prosperity and further achievements.