Azerbaijani president, Uzbek prime minister discuss development of Middle Corridor

MOSCOW (AA) - Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev on Wednesday discussed with Uzbek Prime Minister Abdullah Aripov the implementation of the Middle Corridor project, an international connectivity route.

The corridor goes from China via Kazakhstan, the Caspian Sea, Azerbaijan, and Georgia to Türkiye and European countries.

During their meeting in the Azerbaijani capital Baku, Aliyev and Aripov discussed the importance of the route for both countries, an Azerbaijani presidency statement said.

They also exchanged views on the prospects of participation of Uzbek companies in the special economic zone created in Azerbaijan, it said.

The Azerbaijani president said that relations with Uzbekistan are “developing year by year,” and new projects related to expanding cooperation will be implemented in the future.

For his part, Aripov noted that Aliyev was the first head of state to congratulate Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev’s reelection, calling the move "an example of friendship and brotherhood between presidents and the two countries."

The Uzbek prime minister also praised Aliyev's leadership and pointed out the importance of restoring the country's territorial integrity.