Uzbek Foreign Minister Saidov Speaks at Joint Press Conference with Fidan and Bayramov
Uzbek Foreign Minister Saidov Speaks at Joint Press Conference with Fidan and Bayramov
Uzbek Foreign Minister Bakhtiyar Saidov stated, "We are determined to strengthen our good neighborly relations in Central Asia, as well as deepen mutually beneficial cooperation with our strategic partners in both near and distant regions."
Saidov made these remarks during a trilateral press conference held in Ankara following the Turkey-Azerbaijan-Uzbekistan Trilateral Meeting of Foreign, Trade, Economy, and Transport Ministers. The press conference was attended by Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan and Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov.
Saidov extended his condolences for those who lost their lives in the hotel fire in Bolu Kartalkaya and wished a speedy recovery to the injured.
Minister Saidov noted that the trilateral meeting exceeded expectations and opened new horizons for strategic partnership among the brotherly countries. He highlighted that this event, a continuation of the first trilateral meeting held in Tashkent in 2022, has become an effective platform for discussing and implementing strategic initiatives.
Emphasizing that relations between Uzbekistan, Azerbaijan, and Turkey have reached an all-time high thanks to the political will of their presidents, Saidov recalled that last year, Uzbekistan signed comprehensive strategic partnership agreements with Turkey and elevated its relations with Azerbaijan to an allied level.
Saidov said, "These meetings are not only an important step in strengthening trilateral cooperation but also open doors to new opportunities for bilateral relations based on strategic interests. In recent years, our cooperation in both bilateral and multilateral formats has strengthened to an unprecedented level, gaining new dynamics and practical dimensions."
He added that during the meeting, they discussed further strengthening the strategic partnership between Uzbekistan, Azerbaijan, and Turkey in regional and international politics, trade, economy, investments, and transport. They also developed new proposals to advance mutually beneficial relations in various fields and agreed to systematically enhance dialogue within international institutions.
"We Are Determined to Deepen Our Cooperation"
Saidov explained that it has become more important than ever to effectively promote the common interests of their countries on the global stage and present a unified approach to key issues on the international agenda. He continued:
"Despite the contradictory state of the world, it is no exaggeration to say that under the strong political will of President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, pursuing an open, constructive, and proactive foreign policy has become a hallmark of the new Uzbekistan on the international stage. In this context, we are determined to strengthen our good neighborly relations in Central Asia and deepen mutually beneficial cooperation with our strategic partners in both near and distant regions. In today's interconnected world, economic diplomacy is one of the pillars of international relations. Uzbekistan is in favor of creating new opportunities in this field by leveraging this trilateral cooperation.
The combined population of our countries is approaching 140 million. By effectively utilizing this great potential, we have the opportunity to at least double our trade volume in the near future. In this regard, I had detailed discussions with my counterparts on actively introducing new mechanisms to promote mutual trade."
Noting that while there are significant challenges in logistics chains, the geographical location and transit potential of the three brotherly countries hold strategic importance, Saidov emphasized that close cooperation in this area would not only ensure the stability of freight transportation but also create new transport corridors that meet the needs of modern global markets.
Saidov said, "While Turkey and Azerbaijan are today the western gate of the Middle Corridor, Uzbekistan is emerging as a strategic hub, much like the ancient Silk Road. We held comprehensive consultations on using Uzbekistan as a transport and logistics center for Turkish and Azerbaijani companies to access new markets. In particular, we exchanged views on increasing transportation by extensively utilizing the opportunities of the Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan-Turkmenistan-Azerbaijan-Georgia-Turkey-Europe international transport corridor."
"I Congratulate Our Turkish Brothers"
Saidov stressed the need to unite in promoting their shared history and rich Turkic-Islamic culture to the world, stating:
"In this context, I sincerely congratulate our Turkish brothers on the successful launch of the satellite named after the great scientist Ahmad al-Ferghani on January 14. This historic event not only showcased Turkey's high level of scientific and technological achievement but also reflected the inseparable link between our shared cultural and intellectual heritage and contemporary successes. We expressed our deep gratitude to our Turkish colleagues for their significant contributions to widely promoting the rich legacy of our great ancestors, who made unique contributions to the development of world civilization."