Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — On 27 August, a conference titled “Uzbekistan and Azerbaijan: New Prospects for Mutually Beneficial Cooperation” was held in a hybrid format in Tashkent.

The event was organized by the Institute for Strategic and Interregional Studies under the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan (ISMI) in partnership with the Center for Analysis of International Relations of the Republic of Azerbaijan (AIR Center).

The conference was attended by the heads of diplomatic missions of Uzbekistan and Azerbaijan, as well as experts from leading analytical and research centers of both countries.

On the Uzbek side, participants included leaders and representatives from ISMI, the Institute of Macroeconomic and Regional Studies, the Information and Analytical Center for International Relations, the Center for Economic Research and Reforms, the Center for Progressive Reforms, the International Institute of Central Asia, and Uzbekiston Temir Yullari.

The Azerbaijani side was represented by the leadership and experts from the AIR Center, the South Caucasus Research Center, the Caspian Barrel Oil Research Center, the South Caucasus Political Scientists Club, and the Topchubashov Baku Analytical Center.

In their assessments, representatives of these "think tanks" called the recent visit of Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev to Uzbekistan a "historic milestone." It was noted that the document on allied relations signed by the leaders of Uzbekistan and Azerbaijan marked a transition to a completely new level of bilateral cooperation.

Experts agreed that the driving force of cooperation in the coming years will be trade and economic ties, with a focus on industrial cooperation and the potential to enter third-country markets. Participants are confident that joint efforts in this direction will help achieve the goal of raising mutual trade to the level of 1 billion dollars.

Both Uzbekistan and Azerbaijan have common tasks in developing transport infrastructure and implementing joint logistics projects, which will enhance the transit potential of the two countries. Special importance is attached to Uzbekistan's participation in the Middle Corridor, which naturally strengthens transport and communication connectivity between Central Asia, the Caucasus, and Europe.

There is also a need to more actively utilize the potential of the North-South transport corridor and to take joint steps to enter the markets of Afghanistan, Pakistan, and the Middle East.

According to experts, a new phase in bilateral relations involves cooperation in the field of renewable energy sources. It was emphasized that establishing joint cooperation in the construction of solar power plants and the production of components for renewable energy sources aligns with the interests of both countries.

Moreover, participants expressed the view that Azerbaijan is ready to become a reliable energy bridge for the supply of clean energy from Central Asia to EU countries. In this context, the implementation of the "green" corridor project linking Central Asia, Azerbaijan, and Europe is seen as important.

Following the conference, a decision was made to establish the Uzbek-Azerbaijani Expert Council, aimed at generating new ideas and proposals to deepen the multifaceted dialogue between Tashkent and Baku.