Baku: President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev met with President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev during the latter's visit to Baku on May 18. The meeting was held in conjunction with the 13th Session of the World Urban Forum (WUF13), highlighting the strong fraternal and friendly relations between the two nations.

According to Azeri-Press News Agency, President Aliyev expressed his gratitude to President Mirziyoyev for his participation in the WUF13, underscoring the importance of the presence of the Uzbek leader in fostering the relationship between Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan. President Aliyev recalled previous meetings with President Mirziyoyev and noted the implementation of projects discussed during those encounters, including the construction of Uzbekistan Park in Baku.

President Mirziyoyev expressed his pleasure at being in Azerbaijan and congratulated President Aliyev on hosting the international forum. He highlighted the event as a platform for discussing significant global urban planning issues and expressed gratitude for the invitation. President Mirziyoyev observed the ongoing development in Azerbaijan, particularly the construction of new cities and villages in Garabagh, attributing these achievements to President Aliyev's leadership.

Acknowledging the kind words from President Mirziyoyev, President Aliyev emphasized the support received from Uzbekistan in the reconstruction of Garabagh. He highlighted the construction of the secondary school No. 1 named after Mirzo Ulugbek in Fuzuli by Uzbekistan as a significant gesture of brotherhood and solidarity.

The meeting also touched upon past visits of the two leaders to each other's countries, reflecting on the fond memories and discussions. Both presidents reviewed the progress of economic projects between Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan, expressing satisfaction with their implementation. The discussions included projects in energy, mining, agriculture, mechanical engineering, and pharmaceuticals, among others.

The leaders underscored the strategic alliance between the two countries and celebrated the successful development of cooperation across various sectors.