Azerbaijan President Ilham Aliyev stated that Uzbekistan is demonstrating rapid development. He emphasized the expansion of bilateral ties, growth in trade and economic cooperation, the development of energy projects, and interaction within the framework of the Organization of Turkic States. These remarks were made during an interview ahead of his upcoming state visit to Uzbekistan, as reported by UzA.
According to Aliyev, relations between Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan have reached the highest level in recent years—the level of allied relations. He noted that over the past five years, both countries have held fifteen high-level mutual meetings. The upcoming trip will be Aliyev's third state visit to Uzbekistan in five years and his seventh visit overall.
Aliyev recalled that during visits in 2024 and 2025, the countries signed a declaration on deepening strategic partnership and a treaty on allied relations. The Supreme Intergovernmental Council between Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan has been operational since 2023.
Regarding trade and economic interaction, Aliyev reported that the volume of bilateral trade in 2025 more than tripled compared to the previous year, reaching 795 million US dollars. In the period from January to May 2026, this figure increased by 33% year-on-year, amounting to 144 million US dollars.
He also mentioned the Azerbaijan-Uzbek investment company, established three years ago with a capital of 500 million US dollars, as well as the work of the Intergovernmental Commission, which has held 15 meetings.
Aliyev spoke about cooperation in the energy sector, including the joint venture Neftgaztexnologiya, operating since 2016, and the company Yaşıl Dəhliz Birliyi, founded in 2025 to implement the Azerbaijan-Central Asia green energy corridor project. According to Aliyev, transit cargo flow between the two states grew by 6.7% in 2025 to 1.4 million tons. In January-June 2026, transit volumes increased by 12.2%, reaching 675,000 tons.
Furthermore, he noted that as of July 13, 2026, over 10,700 Chevrolet cars and 275 Isuzu buses had been produced in Uzbekistan. 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, which includes holding cultural days by both countries, media forums, NGO forums, and launching a joint grant competition for NGOs in 2026. He also noted an increase in the number of Uzbek tourists visiting Azerbaijan: from 46,000 people in 2024 to 62,000 in 2025 and 44,000 in the period from January to August 2026. The kinship ties between several cities of the two countries were also mentioned.
In terms of multilateral cooperation, Aliyev stressed the significance of the XII Summit of the Council of Heads of State of the Organization of Turkic States, which took place in Gabala. He also emphasized Azerbaijan's participation in the format of consultative meetings of Central Asian Heads of State, which took place at the seventh meeting in Tashkent in November 2025. In Aliyev's opinion, this effectively expanded the 'C5' format to 'C6'.
In conclusion of the interview, Aliyev congratulated the people of Uzbekistan on the upcoming 35th anniversary of the country's state independence and wished it peace, prosperity, and further success.
