ISTANBUL

Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev on Wednesday met with his Uzbek counterpart Shavkat Mirziyoyev and Iraqi leader Abdullatif Jamal Rashid, who arrived in the capital Baku to attend a summit of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM).

According to a statement by the Uzbek presidency, Aliyev and Mirziyoyev discussed bilateral relations and further cooperation between the two countries.

“The presidents reviewed in detail the implementation of the agreements reached at the highest level. It was noted with deep satisfaction that thanks to systematic and productive contacts, the Uzbek-Azerbaijani relations of strategic partnership have reached a qualitatively new level, filled with concrete content,” the statement said on Wednesday.

It further said Aliyev thanked Mirziyoyev for his support and participation in the summit of the NAM Contact Group on the fight against COVID-19 in Baku, which began on Thursday with a ceremony to commemorate those who lost their lives in the powerful quakes that jolted southern Türkiye on Feb. 6.

Bilateral trade between Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan increased by more than 50%, the statement noted, with the implementation of projects in mainly automotive, textile, and sericulture industries.

It also said preparations are underway for projects in the oil and gas sector, as well as transport and logistics.

The leaders also addressed experience-sharing in free economic zones activities and tax administration system, and stressed that it is important to further expand cultural and humanitarian exchanges.

“The heads of state discussed topical international and regional issues, considered a schedule of upcoming events,” the statement said.

Separately, a statement by the Azerbaijani presidency cited Mirziyoyev as saying that both countries are preparing a big project with SOCAR, Azerbaijan’s state oil company, in the field of oil and gas, with feasibility studies of the project being prepared.

The statement also confirmed talks about cooperation in the automotive, textile, and sericulture industries through Mirziyoyev’s remarks, who also said it shows both countries will have “many joint projects in these areas in the future.”

“I think our meeting today, as well as our participation in the Non-Aligned Movement, will be very useful. I would like to specially mention that the reputation of this organization has increased with the successful chairmanship of Azerbaijan,” Mirziyoyev said.

Deepening Azerbaijani-Iraqi relations

Earlier on Wednesday, Aliyev also met with his Iraqi counterpart Rashid, who also arrived to attend the NAM summit in Baku.

“President Ilham Aliyev recalled with pleasure his participation in the Arab League Summit in Algeria, saying Azerbaijan attaches special importance to development of relations with Arab countries,” a statement by the Azerbaijani presidency read.

It also said Rashid noted his country’s interest in deepening relations with Azerbaijan, saying there are good opportunities for expanding cooperation.

Providing information about the problems and security threats Iraq is facing, Rashid said his country had “already stepped into a stage of stability.”

For his part, Aliyev said there are opportunities for cooperation between Baku and Baghdad at international organizations, most notably within the framework of OPEC+ and other formats.

“During the conversation, the heads of state discussed cooperation in investments, energy, construction, transport and education fields, and underlined the importance of expanding the bilateral economic trade balance and arranging trips of business delegations,” the statement also said.