Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan are strengthening their strategic alliance as trade, investment and transport links grow, President Ilham Aliyev said ahead of his state visit to Uzbekistan.
Aliyev said bilateral relations have reached their highest level, underpinned by shared history, cultural ties and common values.
He said relations between the two countries had entered a period of unprecedented development in recent years, rising to the level of a strategic alliance and taking on new dimensions.
Trade between Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan more than tripled in 2025, reaching $795 million. From January to May 2026, bilateral trade increased by 33 per cent year on year to $144 million.
The Azerbaijan-Uzbekistan Investment Company, established with $500 million in capital, supports investment projects in both countries. Cooperation is also expanding in oil and gas, green energy, transport and manufacturing.
Transit volumes between the two countries increased by 6.7 per cent in 2025 to 1.4 million tonnes. Volumes rose by a further 12.2 per cent from January to June 2026, reaching 675,000 tonnes.
Aliyev also highlighted Azerbaijani investment projects in Uzbekistan.
“Azerbaijan is implementing investment projects in Uzbekistan, including the hotel and residential complex under the Ritz-Carlton brand being built by PASHA Holding in Tashkent, as well as the large tourism and residential complex project ‘Sea Breeze Uzbekistan’ in the Tashkent region,” he said.
Cooperation goes beyond trade and investment, with the two countries strengthening ties in culture, education, science and media.
In the 2025/2026 academic year, 67 Uzbek citizens were studying in Azerbaijan, while 176 Azerbaijani citizens were studying in Uzbekistan. Tourism has also grown, with 62,000 Uzbek citizens visiting Azerbaijan in 2025, up from 46,000 in 2024.
Cultural exchanges have also increased. Uzbekistan’s Days of Culture were held in Azerbaijan in 2023 and 2025, while Azerbaijan’s Days of Culture took place in Uzbekistan in 2024. That year, “Days of Shusha” were also held in Khiva.
A high-level Uzbek delegation also took part in Turkic World Week in Baku, which marked the 100th anniversary of the First Turkological Congress.
Aliyev said Azerbaijan’s engagement with Central Asia has expanded across politics, trade, transport, energy and humanitarian cooperation.
He highlighted Azerbaijan’s participation in the Consultative Meetings of the Heads of State of Central Asia, saying its involvement had contributed to the development of the “C6” format.
“Azerbaijan’s participation in this format demonstrates our country’s contribution to strengthening interregional cooperation,” Aliyev said.
He also pointed to closer connectivity between major regional transport projects, including the potential integration of the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan railway with the Middle Corridor and TRIPP.
Aliyev also stressed the importance of cooperation with Uzbekistan through the Organization of Turkic States.
“Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan view the OTS not only as a platform for interstate cooperation, but also as an important association that carries our shared history, culture and spiritual values into the future,” he said.
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