The event, organized by the International Institute for Central Asia together with the Center for International Relations Analysis of Azerbaijan, was attended by more than 30 specialists and political scientists from leading analytical and research centers of the two countries, representatives of the diplomatic corps, deputies of the Milli Majlis of Azerbaijan and several other specialists.

The Chairman of the Center for International Relations Analysis Farid Shafiyev praised the cooperation between Uzbekistan and Azerbaijan and noted the “good foundation” laid last year during the visit of President Ilham Aliyev to Tashkent.

It was emphasized that the upcoming visit of the President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev to Azerbaijan would give a new impetus to the strategic partnership between the two states and strengthen ties between Central Asia and the South Caucasus.

The Head of the IICA Department Sh. Fayziyev noted that cooperation between Uzbekistan and Azerbaijan is consistently strengthening and expanding – this is the result of the historic visit of the Head of Azerbaijan to Uzbekistan and his talks with Shavkat Mirziyoyev.

The signing of the Declaration on Deepening Strategic Partnership and Increasing Comprehensive Cooperation by the Presidents became one of the essential results demonstrating the willingness to strengthen and develop partnership between the countries at various levels.

Azerbaijan’s experts highly appreciated the state of bilateral relations and highlighted the Development Strategy of the New Uzbekistan aimed at building a strong civil society and modernizing the economy.

At the meeting, it was also noted that thanks to the new regional direction of Uzbekistan defined by President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, an optimal business environment had been created in Central Asia, which contributes to strengthening mutual trust and establishing mutually beneficial cooperation.

The Azerbaijani side focuses on the prospects of enhancing economic ties between the two countries and expresses great interest in cooperation in such areas as transport, industrial cooperation, energy, textiles, mining and chemical industries, and electrical engineering.

Following the roundtable discussion with the participation of the analytical structures of Azerbaijan, a Cooperation Agreement was signed between the Center for International Relations Analysis of Azerbaijan and the International Institute for Central Asia. The document is intended to give the cooperation between the two organizations a systematic character. It is planned to hold joint roundtable discussions, workshops, conferences, and scientific research.

Bekhruz Khudoyberdiyev, UzA