President: Cultural ties strengthen friendship between Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan

Cultural and humanitarian cooperation makes a significant contribution to strengthening mutual understanding, trust and friendship between Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev said in an interview with Uzbekistan's National Information Agency (UzA), Report informs.

"Cultural and humanitarian cooperation between Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan is one of the integral and important areas of relations based on common roots, linguistic and cultural affinity, as well as spiritual values that have been formed over the centuries. Cooperation in this sphere makes a significant contribution to strengthening mutual understanding, trust, friendship and brotherly ties between our peoples, while enriching humanitarian relations with new content," the Azerbaijani president said.

According to him, cultural and humanitarian ties have developed successfully in recent years thanks to the mutual aspirations of the two peoples and joint support from the states.

"Jointly held days of culture, arts festivals, scientific conferences, as well as the publication of literature and the implementation of educational programs, play a special role in strengthening the cultural and humanitarian agenda between the two countries. In 2023 and 2025, Days of Culture of Uzbekistan were held in Azerbaijan; in 2024, Days of Culture of Azerbaijan took place in Uzbekistan, while in the same year, 'Days of Shusha' were held in the city of Khiva. A high-profile delegation from Uzbekistan participated in the Turkic World Week held in Baku, dedicated to the 100th anniversary of the First Turkological Congress," the head of state said.

Aliyev also emphasized that Azerbaijan is proud that one of the oldest and most prestigious higher education institutions in the brotherly country, the National Pedagogical University of Uzbekistan, bears the name of the great Azerbaijani poet and thinker Nizami Ganjavi.

"The 'Uzbekistan' Park, covering an area of 5 hectares, the foundation of which my dear brother, President Shavkat Miromonovich, and I laid last year in central Baku, will become another symbol of our brotherhood. The initiatives and projects implemented by the Heydar Aliyev Foundation also play an important role in expanding cultural and humanitarian cooperation between the two countries," he said.

According to the president, education cooperation is one of the leading areas of cultural and humanitarian partnership between Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan. In the 2025/2026 academic year, 67 Uzbek citizens studied in Azerbaijan, while 176 Azerbaijani citizens studied in Uzbekistan.

"Thus, cultural and humanitarian cooperation between Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan is not only a vital area of bilateral relations, but also a strategic humanitarian bridge for the future that helps preserve our common values, rich cultural heritage and the bonds of brotherhood between our peoples," President Aliyev added.