August 23, 2026. 06:00. We are heading to Tashkent to cover President Ilham Aliyev’s state visit to Uzbekistan. The visit has a packed schedule, with back-to-back meetings, ceremonies, document signings, statements by the presidents, and protocol events followed by journalists second by second.
...Our plane begins its descent into Tashkent. I look out of the window, and the first thing that catches my attention is the greenery. The Uzbek capital looks like a sea of green in the calm of the morning. We get off the plane and are greeted by an airport decorated with the flags of Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan.
Tashkent has prepared for President Ilham Aliyev’s state visit. Azerbaijani and Uzbek flags are flying in the streets, while photographs of the two countries’ presidents – Ilham Aliyev and Shavkat Mirziyoyev – draw attention at various locations across the city. This is more than protocol preparations; it is a visual reflection of the visit extending into public spaces as well. From the very first minutes, it is clear that we will not be covering an ordinary state visit.
Peoples with no communication barrier who rejoice in each other’s successes
We are heading towards Kuksaroy – the state residence of the President of Uzbekistan.
Although it is hot, Tashkent’s greenery makes the city more comfortable. The temperature is high, but the shade of the trees, broad green areas and tidy streets make you somewhat forget the heat. At Kuksaroy, too, the first thing that catches the eye is the greenery. It is one of the official residences of the President of Uzbekistan and hosts the most important high-level state meetings. It is here that the third meeting of the Supreme Interstate Council of the Presidents of Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan will be held.
After entering the grounds of the residence, it is possible to see that everything has been planned down to the smallest detail. The greenery, neat roads, security measures, the movements of protocol staff...
We go through the security procedures. The Uzbek protocol staff treat journalists politely and attentively. A little later, we meet our Uzbek colleagues. An interesting scene unfolds: they speak Uzbek, we reply in Azerbaijani, yet we understand each other.
Among my colleagues, I spot Uzbek journalist Jahongir Alimov, who asked President Ilham Aliyev a question at the Shusha Global Media Forum. The conversation turns to Karabakh and Shusha. Jahongir speaks about Shusha with such enthusiasm that it fills one with pride. His interest in Azerbaijan and Karabakh demonstrates how relations between the two countries are deepening not only at the level of heads of state but also between their societies.
_1787564746.jpg)
Manifestations of sincere friendship
There is little time left.
Preparations are underway for the official welcoming ceremony for the President. We observe from the sidelines. Every detail matters here. Even the smallest mark left on the carpet is straightened out, with special attention paid to ensuring that everything looks impeccable. The guard of honor completes its final preparations.
And there they are – the delegations appear.
That means the presidents are already here.
With the welcoming of the presidents, the main work begins for journalists as well. Cameras start rolling, the clicking of cameras can be heard, and the first reports are prepared on phones.
The warm relationship between the two leaders can also be felt in the behavior of the delegations. It is as though, behind the rigid framework of official protocol, the more sincere side of a friendship built over years becomes visible.
A little earlier, during a conversation with journalists, Assistant to the President of Azerbaijan – Head of the Foreign Policy Affairs Department of the Presidential Administration Hikmet Hajiyev also drew attention to the closeness created by the Azerbaijani and Uzbek languages: the two peoples can understand and speak each other’s languages to a certain extent. More communication and closer interaction could strengthen this affinity even further.
Another historic event
This is the second time I have covered President Ilham Aliyev’s visit to Tashkent.
I was also here in November last year. During that visit, I was among the first journalists in the Azerbaijani media to report on Azerbaijan joining the Central Asian countries in the “C5+1” format. This time, we are once again witnessing a historic event.
Documents formalizing a new stage in Azerbaijan-Uzbekistan relations are being signed. Among them, the “Treaty on Eternal Friendship between the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Republic of Uzbekistan” holds a special place. The document stipulates that the two states will develop their relations on the principles of eternal friendship, mutual trust, strategic partnership and alliance. The parties also undertake not to allow activities that could harm each other’s sovereignty, security and territorial integrity.
This is an event of particular significance in our diplomatic history: for the first time, Azerbaijan is formalizing its relations with another state in a legal document through the concept of “eternal friendship.”
A new agenda in bilateral relations between Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan
The day’s events do not end there.
The presidents hold the third meeting of the Supreme Interstate Council of Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan. This mechanism has already become one of the institutional pillars of relations between the two countries. The meeting discusses the further deepening of strategic partnership and allied relations, new projects and various areas of the bilateral agenda.
At the end of the meeting, the Decision of the third meeting of the Council is also signed. The decision emphasizes that the documents on eternal friendship and alliance create a solid legal foundation for expanding cooperation between the two countries.
Mutual respect between the two leaders and high state decorations
One of the most memorable moments of the day is the sincere remarks the presidents make about each other and the mutual award ceremony.
At the third meeting of the Supreme Interstate Council and the press conference, President Ilham Aliyev emphasized Shavkat Mirziyoyev’s special role in Uzbekistan’s development, strengthening the country’s international standing and bringing Azerbaijan-Uzbekistan relations to their current level. The Uzbek leader, in turn, described the restoration of Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity and sovereignty under President Ilham Aliyev’s leadership as a historic achievement and particularly highlighted the revival of Karabakh. Another symbol of the sincere relationship was the presidents’ mutual presentation of awards. Shavkat Mirziyoyev presented President Ilham Aliyev with Uzbekistan’s highest-class “Friendship” Order, highly appreciating his contribution to the development of friendship and cooperation between the two peoples. President Ilham Aliyev, in turn, presented Shavkat Mirziyoyev with Azerbaijan’s highest state decoration, the “Heydar Aliyev Order.” These words and awards were remembered as another expression of the personal friendship and mutual trust between the two leaders and the strategic nature of Azerbaijan-Uzbekistan relations.
Our friends’ wish to visit Azerbaijan again
Of course, during this historic visit, journalists are also racing to send their reports as quickly as possible after each event.
The concept of time is somewhat different here. One event begins before another has even ended. On one side there is video recording, on the other photography, social media posts, news reports, live broadcasts...
Another striking aspect of Tashkent is the attitude towards Azerbaijan that can be seen in the streets, at event venues and among the people we meet. Our Uzbek colleagues speak warmly about Azerbaijan. Some talk about their visits to Baku, others about Shusha or Karabakh. Almost every conversation ends with the same wish: to visit Azerbaijan again.
Perhaps this is one of the most sincere indicators of relations between the two countries.
Heads of state sign documents, governments work on new projects, and journalists communicate all this to the world. But behind all of it lies the relationship between the two peoples. The symbols of this relationship are no longer confined to documents alone.
The creation of an “Uzbekistan” Park in Baku and an “Azerbaijan” Park in New Tashkent is becoming a new symbol of the historical and cultural closeness between the two peoples. The foundation of the Azerbaijan Park was also laid as part of this visit.
Bukhara awaits us...
The day draws to a close.
We arrived in Tashkent in the first light of morning. Now the city has a different appearance. Hundreds of images captured during the day, dozens of news reports written and dispatched, and the meetings held have already become memories of a single day.
But the visit itself is not over yet.
Bukhara awaits us...
Follow us on Telegram
t.me/apanewsaz
Follow us on Instagram
Follow us on TikTok
Follow us on Facebook
Follow us on X
