The development of relations with Azerbaijan is one of the main priorities of Uzbekistan’s foreign policy. Uzbekistan considers Azerbaijan as an important strategic partner, evidence of which is close cooperation in political, trade, economic, cultural, humanitarian and other spheres. Today Uzbek-Azerbaijani relations are the relations of two partners and friends.
In this context, a landmark event was the state visit of the President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev to Tashkent, during which a Declaration was adopted on deepening the strategic partnership and building up comprehensive cooperation between Uzbekistan and Azerbaijan.
It should be noted that the adopted document is comprehensive and covers about 40 areas of interaction between the two states. Joint efforts will be focused on expanding interstate trade and economic cooperation, industrial cooperation, and efficient use of transport and transit potential.
At the same time, the provisions of the Declaration show that the development of cultural and humanitarian ties is also of no small importance for the two countries.
In this regard, it should be emphasized that the program of cooperation in the field of tourism and agreements in the field of scientific cooperation between the Academies of Sciences of the two countries, signed during the visit, have identified the further consistent expansion of cultural and humanitarian ties as the main priority for the two states.
It should be emphasized that the achieved level of modern relations between Uzbekistan and Azerbaijan has been achieved largely due to the establishment of a close and trusting dialogue between the leaders of the two states. The solemn ceremony of opening a street named after the national leader of the Azerbaijani people Heydar Aliyev and a memorial bas-relief was a confirmation of the growing Uzbek-Azerbaijani relations, friendship and cooperation based on a common history and proximity of cultures.
During the years of leadership of Azerbaijan, Heydar Aliyev laid a solid foundation for strengthening friendship between our peoples and states. Thanks to the efforts of President Ilham Aliyev, this cooperation has become more strategic and intensive.
At the same time, it is no coincidence that the Azerbaijani leader visits Khiva, the cultural capital of the Turkic world, during his visit. The peoples of Uzbekistan and Azerbaijan are connected by historical, centuries-old relations based on common national traditions and customs, language, culture and religion.
The Uzbek and Azerbaijani peoples are united by a common cultural and historical past, the creations and heritage of which have deservedly entered the treasury of world civilization.
It is important that the bonds of friendship, mutual understanding, goodwill are preserved and developed to this day. The land of Uzbekistan has become the homeland for the numerous Azerbaijani community, which numbers about 40 thousand people.
In order to preserve and develop the national traditions, customs and values of Azerbaijanis living in the republic, the Azerbaijan Cultural Center named after Heydar Aliyev, located on the street of the same name in Tashkent, operates. Developing and strengthening interethnic ties, the center contributes to the process of mutual enrichment and mutual influence of cultures, strengthening friendship between the peoples of Uzbekistan and Azerbaijan.
In this context, the program of cooperation in the field of tourism adopted during the visit is of great importance. Thanks to it, the opportunities for citizens of the two states to get acquainted with the traditions, rich original culture, magnificent sights: objects of history, architecture and unique natural monuments of Uzbekistan and Azerbaijan will significantly expand. History proves that cultural achievements spread through contacts between peoples, and in this regard, tourism is the best way of cultural communication.
Summing up, we can say that the visit of Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev has become an important milestone in the development of Uzbek-Azerbaijani relations. Both sides have demonstrated that the existing friendly ties are filled with even greater practical content.
By Alexey Kustov for the Uzbekistan Daily.
