Aliyev says Azerbaijan-Uzbekistan cooperation has reached level of allied relations

Relations between Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan have reached the level of allied relations in recent years and encompass the political, economic, investment, energy, transport and humanitarian sectors, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev said in an interview with the Uzbekistan National News Agency, according to APA.

Aliyev said that 15 mutual high-level visits had taken place between the two countries over the past five years.

According to him, documents signed during his state visit to Uzbekistan in 2024 and Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev’s visit to Azerbaijan in 2025, including the Declaration on Further Strengthening Strategic Partnership and the Treaty on Allied Relations, had strengthened the legal and political foundations of bilateral ties.

Turning to economic relations, the Azerbaijani president said trade turnover between Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan increased more than threefold in 2025 compared with the previous year, reaching $795 million. Between January and May 2026, it increased by 33% compared with the same period a year earlier, reaching $144 million.

Aliyev also said the Azerbaijan-Uzbekistan Investment Company, established three years ago, has a total capital of $500 million. The two countries also cooperate in the energy sector, including renewable energy. In 2025, the relevant bodies of Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan established the Green Corridor Union joint venture, one of the aims of which is to develop opportunities for transmitting renewable energy across the Caspian Sea seabed.

According to the Azerbaijani president, the volume of transit freight between the two countries increased by 6.7% in 2025, reaching 1.4 million tonnes, while a further increase of 12.2% was recorded in the first half of 2026. More than 130 commercial organisations with Uzbek investment are currently registered in Azerbaijan.

Aliyev also highlighted cooperation between Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan within the framework of the Organization of Turkic States.

According to him, the two sides regard cooperation in transport and logistics as particularly promising. The Azerbaijani president said integrating the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan railway project with the Middle Corridor and TRIPP could create new economic and transit opportunities for the entire region.

Aliyev also stressed that following Azerbaijan’s full participation in the Consultative Meetings of the Heads of State of Central Asia, the former “C5” format had effectively become “C6”. In his assessment, the format provides an opportunity to deepen regional cooperation and implement joint initiatives.