The Center of Analysis of International Relations (AIR Center) and the Institute for Strategic and Regional Studies, under the President of Uzbekistan, co-organized the hybrid conference "Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan: New prospects for mutually beneficial cooperation" on August 27, 2024.

Addressing the meeting, Bakhtiyor Mustafayev, Deputy Director of the Institute for Strategic and Regional Studies, noted that the current state of bilateral relations is satisfactory and the prospects are high. According to him, President Ilham Aliyev’s visit to Uzbekistan marks the beginning of a new era for the development of multifaceted cooperation between the two countries.

“In a short period of time, interstate relations have been raised to a high level, our economic relations are developing successfully.”

Highlighting the big potential of cooperation in the field of alternative energy, B. Mustafayev drew attention to the active work that is being carried out on the establishment of the “Azerbaijan-Central Asia-Europe” “green energy” corridor.

Farid Shafiyev, the Chairman of the Board of the AIR Center, emphasized the regional and global importance of the documents signed during President Ilham Aliyev’s state visit to Uzbekistan, in particular the Treaty on Allied Relations.

"During the last 30 years, very close relations between Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan have been established. Our relations are at a very high, strategic level. F. Shafiyev touched upon the necessity of developing relations in the economic field. He called for the removal of customs and bureaucratic barriers to enhance private sector cooperation.

He also noted the importance of intensifying interaction and contacts among academic circles within the framework of the Organization of Turkic States.

Touching on the importance of the development of bilateral industrial cooperation, Ambassador of Uzbekistan to Azerbaijan Bahrom Ashrafkhanov noted that Azerbaijan serves as a bridge for Uzbekistan to Europe, while Uzbekistan can become a bridge for Azerbaijan to Asia.

Mahir Jafarov, Advisor to the Azerbaijani Embassy in Uzbekistan, characterized President Ilham Aliyev’s visit to Uzbekistan as historic and a new stage in bilateral relations, noting that enhanced cooperation in transport, logistics, and renewable energy would significantly boost bilateral relations.

The conference continued with panels titled “Azerbaijan-Uzbekistan strategic partnership as an important factor in the development of cooperation between the regions of Central Asia and the South Caucasus,"  “The state and development prospects of commercial and economic interaction between Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan," and “Development of Azerbaijan-Uzbekistan transport-logistics interaction in new geopolitical conditions.”

A key outcome of the conference was the decision to establish the Azerbaijan-Uzbekistan Expert Council, aimed at fostering deeper collaboration and dialogue between the two nations.