Ambassador: Azerbaijan attaches great importance to strengthening of comprehensive cooperation with Uzbekistan

Uzbekistan, Tashkent, Aug 29 /Trend D.Azizov/ Azerbaijan attaches great importance to the strengthening of comprehensive cooperation with Uzbekistan, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Azerbaijan Namig Abbasov said in an interview with Jahon information agency under the Foreign Ministry of Uzbekistan on the eve of Independence Day celebrations. "For our country, Uzbekistan - is a key partner in Central Asia, which takes on the growing geopolitical and economic importance," he said. Abbasov noted that there has been a serious tendency to expand economic relations in recent years. Parties agreed on an action plan to implement the program of economic cooperation between the governments of Azerbaijan and the Republic of Uzbekistan for 2011-2015. Bilateral cooperation in the energy sphere is expanding. "I would like to emphasize that the deepening economic, trade and investment ties is a priority for bilateral cooperation. In the current difficult conditions, including the preservation of the global crisis, the issues of determining the joint action program to strengthen and deepen the cooperation between enterprises and companies of the two countries, further increase the momentum of bilateral trade are very important," the head of the Azerbaijani diplomatic mission said. "Uzbekistan has developed a program for the construction of an open, democratic state with a socially oriented market economy from the first days of independence. Every year we are seeing a lot of progress and prosperity of Uzbekistan. Today achievements of Uzbekistan can be described succinctly and clearly: only people who are masters of their fate, capable of similar achievements. The implementation of the program of industrial development of Uzbekistan, which provides the realization of more than 500 investment projects worth about $ 50 billion in 2011-2015, is of great interest for us. I am sure that the planned industrial production rates growth not less than by 60 percent, increase of its share in the structure of the GDP to 28 percent in 2015, will be successfully implemented. Meanwhile, the development of innovation-oriented industries will be an effective source for future sustainable development of the state and national economy," Abbasov said He noted that the ties of friendship and brotherhood between the Uzbek and Azerbaijani peoples are rooted in the deep past, and the beginning of the XXI century marked the rapid development of cooperation in the political, socio-economic, cultural and humanitarian spheres. Figures of Azerbaijan always involved in major projects in Uzbekistan, Uzbek members are always welcomed at international events in Baku. The ties between the youth of the two countries are expanding and deepen. The opening of Heydar Aliyev Cultural Centre in Tashkent under the Embassy of Azerbaijan is the symbol of the development of cultural relations. Notably, that the activities of the center, its museums and the library is attended not only by Azerbaijanis living in Tashkent, but also Uzbeks, Russian, Korean, and representatives of other nations, which contributes to international friendship and harmony, "- he said. In conclusion, the Ambassador of Azerbaijan congratulates the fraternal people of Uzbekistan with the upcoming Independence Day, wishing them good health, happiness and prosperity. Do you have any feedback? Contact our journalist at agency@trend.az