An expert roundtable titled “Azerbaijan – Uzbekistan: Strategies, Challenges, Solutions” was held at the STEM Analytical Center. The event gathered representatives of government agencies, parliament members, scholars, and analysts from Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan to discuss pressing issues of bilateral cooperation in the fields of energy, transport, trade, and strategic security.

Opening the event, Director of the STEM Analytical Center Orkhan Yolchuyev noted that the potential of Azerbaijani-Uzbek cooperation is far from exhausted. According to him, Uzbekistan is actively engaging in joint projects, showing interest in developing the Middle Corridor, while the strategic partnership between the two countries stands as a unique example of the highest level of interaction in the region.

Member of the Milli Majlis (Parliament) Azer Allahveranov emphasized that along with new horizons of cooperation, new challenges also arise. He noted that it is gratifying to see new trends emerging and that it is important the dialogue is not limited to theoretical approaches but extends to practical steps. In this regard, he recalled the 2023 Fizuli Forum of NGOs from Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan, which became a significant milestone in the development of the humanitarian dimension of bilateral relations.

Head of the Center for Strategic Communications of IPMI UMED, Nargiza Umarova, presented Uzbekistan’s strategic goals up to 2030. She highlighted that by the end of 2024, the volume of freight transportation through the country had reached 1.5 million tons per year, and by 2030 this figure is expected to increase severalfold. Among Uzbekistan’s key projects, she highlighted the “China–Kyrgyzstan–Uzbekistan” railway route, which will give an additional boost to the development of the country’s transport hub. “Uzbekistan envisions the development of its transport and logistics potential through the Turkmenbashi port. The two Kazakh ports of Kuryk and Aktau are also of great importance,” she said. The expert also paid special attention to the Trans-Afghan Corridor, which provides access to the ports of Pakistan and India. According to her, the interconnection of the Trans-Afghan route with the Middle Corridor creates new opportunities for increasing trade turnover between Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan. Umarova also noted changes in Uzbekistan’s trade strategy: the country is moving away from raw material exports and focusing on supplying value-added textile products, expanding its export geography to the European Union.

Energy expert and Head of the Center for Energy Diplomacy and Geopolitics of IPMI UMED, Khayotjon Ibragimov, elaborated on the transformation of Uzbekistan’s energy policy. According to him, population growth and changing demographics require a doubling of resources, and for the first time, the country is becoming a partial importer of electricity, purchasing part of its power from Tajikistan. By 2030, renewable sources are expected to account for up to 54% of total power generation. In this context, the Masdar company’s project for the construction of solar panels in Zarafshan is being implemented. Special attention is also given to the development of nuclear energy as a more stable and weather-independent source. “Uzbekistan is actively optimizing gas clusters and developing plants for producing energy products with added value, which positions the country as a potential energy hub of Central Asia,” he noted. Ibragimov also highlighted active cooperation with SOCAR and pointed out that Uzbekistan’s energy projects attract interest from China, the USA, and Europe, particularly in the context of developing the Trans-Caspian Gas Pipeline.

Doctor of Law, Professor, and Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassador of the Republic of Azerbaijan Namig Aliyev emphasized that Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan play a key role within the Organization of Turkic States. He stated that the energy and transport sectors are becoming the main pillars of cooperation and underscored the importance of working closely with analytical centers to critically assess the situation and develop long-term solutions.

Transport expert Rauf Agamirzayev highlighted the priority importance of the Middle Corridor for Azerbaijan’s foreign policy. He stressed that the country lies on a strategic route, bordering states under sanctions pressure, while its transport interests extend far beyond the region, forming a broader network of international routes.

Energy expert Ilham Shaban drew attention to the development of cooperation between Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan in the field of green energy. He recalled the memorandum signed in April 2025 between Azerbaijan, Georgia, Turkey, and Bulgaria on the transmission of renewable energy to Europe, noting that this initiative could also connect the green agendas of Central Asian countries. According to him, transporting “green” energy from Central Asia over a distance of more than 3,000 kilometers is extremely costly, which is why the EU is also turning to alternative sources in North Africa. Nevertheless, Uzbekistan is taking active steps toward renewable energy, and its experience could be valuable for the entire region.

Expert Rafik Ismailov emphasized the importance of developing trade and explored Uzbekistan’s export potential in new regions, including the Azerbaijani market.

In his closing remarks, expert from the Center for Sociological Research Ilyas Guseynov noted Azerbaijan’s growing interest in the Central Asian region. According to him, closer coordination is needed to counter shared threats, especially in the media space. “Only by acting together can we resist hybrid attacks and maintain the resilience of our information environment,” he stressed.

At the conclusion of the discussion, participants emphasized that the strategic partnership between Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan is reaching a new level, encompassing energy, transport, trade, and humanitarian cooperation. The key areas identified were the integration of the Middle and Trans-Afghan corridors and the development of renewable energy.