TASHKENT, Uzbekistan, August 22. Cooperation between Baku and Tashkent is actively expanding, with interaction between the two capitals becoming increasingly regular, Baku Mayor Eldar Azizov said at the fourth Uzbekistan-Azerbaijan Regional Forum in Tashkent, Trend's special correspondent reports.
“Cooperation between our countries has reached a new level and is in many ways a model. The cities of the two countries are also part of this important process,” Azizov said.
He noted that his current visit to Tashkent was likely his fifth since taking office as head of Baku’s executive authority eight years ago. “An interesting point: I just realized that I have been working as head of Baku’s executive authority for eight years and this is probably my fifth visit to Tashkent. I think there is hardly another example that even comes close to this frequency. This also reflects the level of cooperation between our countries, cities and capitals,” Azizov said.
According to him, relations between Baku and Tashkent are developing actively within the framework of broader government-to-government cooperation, while meetings between city leaders and delegations at various levels have become regular.
Azizov said Baku has reached new development standards as a result of the policies pursued by Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and has, in a sense, become a metropolis. “Today, the city and its wider agglomeration are home to more than three million people. It is developing rapidly, with new examples of modern architecture such as the Heydar Aliyev Center, Baku Olympic Stadium and the Flame Towers,” he said.
According to Azizov, Baku is preparing for the new standards of urban development, taking into account forecasts by futurists and scientists that the future of humanity will increasingly be concentrated in metropolitan areas.
In this context, and taking other factors into account, a new Master Plan for the development of Baku was prepared on the instructions of President Ilham Aliyev. “The Master Plan defines the city’s further development. Baku will become polycentric, which is particularly important given that the city stretches around 138 kilometers from one end to the other. It will be multifunctional and comfortable for its residents,” the mayor said.
He also spoke about projects aimed at developing new urban centers in Baku. In particular, Azizov highlighted the White City project, an area that had been heavily polluted during the Soviet period but was subsequently remediated. “On the initiative and instructions of President Ilham Aliyev, a completely new format was created. In fact, it is a city within a city,” he said.
Azizov also highlighted the successful implementation of the Sea Breeze project, noting that it has facilitated cooperation between Azerbaijani and Uzbek companies. “Overall, Baku continues to develop intensively across many areas. The city is developing and becoming cleaner, as many visitors to Azerbaijan have noted. And most importantly, the city is safe,” he said.
According to Azizov, Baku’s safety is ensured not only through public order, cleanliness and an effective law enforcement system, but also by creating reliable conditions for investment in urban infrastructure.
He invited Uzbek businesses to cooperate and implement projects in Baku. “In short, we invite you to cooperate with us in our city and on our urban development platforms. For our part, we promise to further strengthen our activities in our brother city of Tashkent. There are every reason to do so, and logic dictates that these relations should continue to develop,” Azizov emphasized.
