Uzbekistan and Azerbaijan share centuries-old historical and cultural ties rooted in shared Turkic heritage, language, traditions, and spiritual values.

Cultural cooperation remains a key area for developing bilateral relations and strengthening friendship between peoples.

The origins of cultural ties between the two countries date back to the era of prominent Eastern thinkers, including Nizami Ganjavi, Alisher Navoi, Abdurrahman Jami, and others. For centuries, trade, economic, and humanitarian contacts have been actively developing between the regions of Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan along the Great Silk Road. These traditions of cultural exchange continue to develop.

The Agreement on Cooperation in the Humanitarian Field, signed by the Governments of Uzbekistan and Azerbaijan in 1996, serves as the legal basis for bilateral humanitarian cooperation. In recent years, the cultural dialogue between the two countries has become systemic. Cultural days, joint theater and music festivals, international forums, film screenings, and exhibitions are regularly held, and academic exchange programs, scientific research, conferences, and workshops are implemented.

Uzbekistan Culture Days have been held in Baku and Fizuli since December 13. The events are organized jointly with the Ministries of Culture of the two countries and include a concert program with the participation of Uzbek art masters, as well as a photo exhibition “New Uzbekistan”. They will be attended by a delegation from the Republic of Uzbekistan numbering more than 170 people, including national and honored artists, the State Symphony Orchestra, the Maqom Ensemble, the Navruz dance ensemble, and other creative groups. The delegation is led by the First Deputy Minister of Culture of Uzbekistan Bakhodir Akhmedov.

Uzbekistan Culture Days in Baku in 2023 and Azerbaijan Culture Days in Tashkent in 2024 were held at a high level. In 2024, as part of the official visit of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan to Uzbekistan, joint concert programs titled “Friendship Evening” were also held, featuring art masters from both countries.

Aziza Alimova, UzA