An article on President Ilham Aliyev’s visit to Uzbekistan has been published by Euronews
The article noted the signing of the Treaty on Eternal Friendship between the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Republic of Uzbekistan and plans to implement new projects in the banking, energy, tourism and mining sectors.
The article also particularly emphasized that the two countries will co-host the FIFA U-20 World Cup in 2027.
"Uzbekistan and Azerbaijan signed a Treaty on Eternal Friendship on Sunday and set a target of raising bilateral trade to $1bn (€856mn) by 2030, as Presidents Shavkat Mirziyoyev and Ilham Aliyev deepened economic and transport ties during talks in Tashkent. The treaty marks one of the hallmarks of President Aliyev's two-day state visit to Uzbekistan," the article said.
Economic cooperation and investments
It was noted that the two governments also established the Azerbaijan-Uzbekistan Investment Company in 2023, trade turnover between the countries increased in 2026, and cooperation in the fields covering energy, geology, chemicals, construction, finance and agriculture.
Trans-Caspian cooperation and the Middle Corridor
The article also highlighted Trans-Caspian cooperation between Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan.
“Both leaders agreed to strengthen connectivity through the Middle Corridor, with a focus on improving logistics infrastructure and increasing freight traffic along the Trans-Caspian network linking Central Asia with the South Caucasus and Europe,” the article noted.
The article also highlighted President Ilham Aliyev’s description of Azerbaijan and Central Asia as “a single geopolitical and geo-economic region”.
Joint fleet in the Caspian Sea and transit
The article states that Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev announced plans to step up work on creating a joint fleet on the Caspian Sea. Transit freight between Uzbekistan and Azerbaijan reached 1.4 million tonnes in 2025. In the first half of 2026, volumes rose 12.2% year-on-year to 675,000 tonnes. President Ilham Aliyev provided these figures in an interview with Uzbekistan's state news agency UzA before his visit. President Ilham Aliyev also noted that the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan railway, now under development, could eventually connect with the Middle Corridor and other transport routes through the South Caucasus.
European Union’s interest in the Middle Corridor
The article also discussed the European Union’s support for the Trans-Caspian network. It mainly focuses on the EU’s interest in the Middle Corridor and transport and energy links passing through Azerbaijan. It emphasized that the EU is backing the Trans-Caspian network, with the main goal of connecting Central Asia with Europe more quickly. The aim is to connect Europe and Central Asia in 15 days or less. European and international partners announced €10 billion in ongoing and planned transport investment commitments in Central Asia in 2024. In addition, the EU is seeking to provide financing for connectivity projects in the Black Sea region and the South Caucasus. In June, the European Commission signed agreements with international financial institutions expected to mobilise up to €2 billion for connectivity projects.
Green energy corridor
The article also notes that energy cooperation is an important area. Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan are developing a “green energy corridor”. The aim is to connect the power systems of the three countries. The project could eventually enable renewable electricity generated in Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan to be transmitted across the Caspian Sea to Azerbaijan and potentially onwards to European markets.
2027 FIFA U-20 World Cup
The article states that Uzbekistan and Azerbaijan will jointly host the FIFA U-20 World Cup in 2027, following a FIFA Council decision in 2025. President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev announced a joint programme dubbed “Two countries – one championship” as part of preparations for the tournament.
Culture, tourism and city-to-city cooperation
The article also notes that the two sides signed agreements on pensions, culture and tourism, as well as cooperation between their foreign and justice ministries. In addition, to strengthen city-to-city cooperation, partnerships will pair Urgench with both Khankendi and Nakhchivan, and Bukhara with Lachin.
Education and Azerbaijan Park
The article further states that the two leaders inaugurated the new campus of the Nizami National Pedagogical University in New Tashkent. The 40-hectare complex is designed for 20,000 students.
It also notes that work has been launched on a four-hectare Azerbaijan Park in New Tashkent, mirroring an Uzbekistan Park planned in Baku.
Follow us on Telegram
t.me/apanewsaz
Follow us on Instagram
Follow us on TikTok
Follow us on Facebook
Follow us on X
