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On 19 July, Prime Minister of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ali Asadov met with Prime Minister of the Republic of Uzbekistan Abdulla Aripov, who is in Azerbaijan on an official visit, Azernews reports.

According to the press service of the Cabinet of Ministers, the current issues on the bilateral agenda were discussed during one-on-one talks between the heads of government.

Then the meeting of the Prime Ministers continued with the participation of the delegations of the two countries.

It was noted during the meeting that the foundation of bilateral relations between the two countries was laid by the national leader of the Azerbaijani people Heydar Aliyev and the first President of Uzbekistan Islam Karimov.

Appreciation was expressed for organizing high-level events in Uzbekistan on the occasion of the 100th birth anniversary of Great Leader Heydar Aliyev.

It was emphasized with a sense of satisfaction that thanks to the joint efforts of heads of state Ilham Aliyev and Shavkat Mirziyoyev, today Azerbaijan-Uzbekistan relations have reached the level of comprehensively developing strategic partnership.

The sides noted that Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan closely cooperate within the framework of international organizations, including the UN, CIS, Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, and Organisation of Turkic States.

A.Asadov wished success to Uzbekistan during its chairmanship in the Organisation of Turkic States this year.

It was noted that personal relations between the heads of state, based on mutual trust and constant contact, play a key role in strengthening bilateral relations. Last year was very productive in this regard. The President of Azerbaijan visited Uzbekistan three times.

"More important was the state visit, which was marked by the signing of a package of documents. The declaration on deepening strategic partnership and development of comprehensive cooperation signed by the heads of state raised our relations to a qualitatively new level," Asadov said.

The importance of President Shavkat Mirziyoyev's visit to Azerbaijan in March this year to participate in the Summit of the Contact Group of the Non-Aligned Movement's COVID-19 Contact Group was also noted.

Preparations for the state visit of the President of Uzbekistan to Azerbaijan are in full swing.

Detailed information was provided on the large-scale reconstruction and development of the liberated territories of Azerbaijan. In this context, gratitude was expressed for the initiative of the President of Uzbekistan to build a 960-seat school in the liberated town of Fizuli.

The sides noted the importance of the meeting of the Joint Intergovernmental Commission on Cooperation between Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan held in Shusha on 18 July. They expressed hope that the decisions taken at the end of the meeting will contribute to the strengthening of mutually beneficial cooperation between Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan.

The heads of government also highly assessed the trade and economic cooperation between the two countries and expressed satisfaction with the significant growth of trade turnover, which has increased by about 64 percent by the end of 2022.

The sides stressed the good dynamics of mutual investment activity and noted the importance of signing yesterday in Shusha the founding documents on the establishment of the Azerbaijan-Uzbekistan Investment Fund. The establishment of the Joint Investment Fund was seen as an additional incentive for strengthening investment cooperation.

The Uzbek side was informed about the favorable investment climate in Azerbaijan.

The heads of government positively assessed the prospects for cooperation in transport and transit. Last year, the total volume of freight traffic between the two countries increased by more than 65 percent. The importance of the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route (Middle Corridor) was particularly noted.

The sides also noted the positive development of industrial cooperation, cooperation in the field of cotton and silk production.

It was emphasized that there is active interaction in the energy sector. Last year, Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan signed a road map of cooperation in the energy sector.

The prime ministers also noted that good opportunities have been created in the sphere of renewable energy sources, and expressed satisfaction with productive cooperation in agricultural, cultural-humanitarian, educational, medical, and other spheres.

Then, co-chairman of the Joint Intergovernmental Commission, Minister of Economy of the Republic of Azerbaijan Mikail Jabbarov, and Minister of Investment, Industry and Trade of the Republic of Uzbekistan Laziz Kudratov made speeches.

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