Russian media widely cover President Ilham Aliyev's state visit to Uzbekistan
The state visit of Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev to Uzbekistan is being widely covered by Russian media.
Russian publications are focusing on the talks between the leaders of the two countries, the signing of the Treaty on Eternal Friendship, the development of trade, economic, and transport cooperation, as well as new joint projects of Baku and Tashkent.
As AZERTAC reports, the TASS agency pays particular attention to the signing by Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev of the Treaty on Eternal Friendship. The publication notes that the heads of state also signed a number of other documents, including a program to increase mutual trade turnover to $1 billion, as well as agreements on cooperation in the fields of tourism and culture.
The Interfax agency reports in detail on the results of the talks and the third meeting of the Supreme Interstate Council of Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan. The publications note that the parties intend to deepen their strategic partnership and allied relations, expand industrial cooperation, and make more active use of the opportunities of the joint investment company.
Interfax devotes separate attention to transport cooperation. The agency cites the statement of Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev on Tashkent's interest in creating a separate Uzbek-Azerbaijani transport corridor with a single operator in the Caspian Sea and in accelerating the launch of a joint fleet as part of the development of the Middle Corridor.
The Russian publication Vedomosti writes about the high level of relations achieved between Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan, noting a threefold increase in mutual trade over the past five years. The publication draws attention to joint projects in energy, the chemical and extractive industries, the textile sector, agriculture, and urban development, as well as to plans to bring trade turnover between the two countries to $1 billion.
Russian media also report on the launch, as part of the visit, of new joint projects in the banking and financial sector, the oil and gas industry, education, tourism, housing construction, the mining industry, and agriculture.
A number of publications draw attention to President Ilham Aliyev's statements on the development of transport routes. In particular, Russian media quote the head of state, who reported on the progress of work on the creation of the Zangezur corridor on the territory of Azerbaijan and the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic, as well as on the prospects for the implementation of the TRIPP project on the territory of Armenia.
The ceremony of mutual awarding of the heads of state was also reflected in the publications of Russian media. It is reported that President Ilham Aliyev was awarded Uzbekistan's highest state award — the highest-degree Oliy Darajali Dustlik Order — while President Shavkat Mirziyoyev received the Heydar Aliyev Order.
The Russian press also notes Uzbekistan's special role in the implementation of projects in the liberated territories of Azerbaijan. The media cite President Ilham Aliyev's words that Uzbekistan was the first to provide support in the restoration of Karabakh, building a school for 960 students and investing in the creation of a large garment production facility.
