BAKU, Azerbaijan, September 30. The 2nd Azerbaijan-Uzbekistan Media Forum, titled "Digital Transformation and Media", has concluded in Baku, Trend reports.
The forum, organized with the support of the Media Development Agency of Azerbaijan, featured two panel sessions: "Media Partnership in the Digital Age: Joint Initiatives on Information Security" and "Ethical Responsibility in the Digital Information Environment".
The first panel of the forum was moderated by Emin Aliyev, Editor-in-Chief of Trend News Agency.
Addressing the event participants, Executive Director of Azerbaijan's Media Development Agency Ahmad Ismayilov noted that the brotherly ties between the peoples of Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan are connected by threads of brotherhood that have come from the depths of centuries.
The elevation of our bilateral relations to the level of strategic partnership opens up vast opportunities for strengthening our cooperation in all fields, including in the media. In the past decade, global developments in the information space have completely transformed the nature of the media. The consumption of information is rapidly becoming digitalized; social networks and online platforms have become the main channels of information exchange.
While digital transformation increases the media's operational efficiency, it also imposes new responsibilities on it. The key issue here is ensuring accurate, objective, and reliable news amid the abundance of information," he added.
Chairman of the Audiovisual Council of Azerbaijan Ismat Sattarov added that media cooperation between Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan is an important part of these strong relationships, and the current forum will be a successful platform for expanding future cooperation.
"As the Audiovisual Council, we believe that the close cooperation established between the media organizations of Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan will make a significant contribution to the healthy, objective and professional development of our information environment. Especially in today's era - when the issues of digital transformation, information security and media sustainability are at the forefront, it is extremely important for our countries to work together in this area.
Joint projects, information exchange, the application of new technological trends and the exchange of experience of our professional journalists will serve our mutual development. I am sure that this Forum will be the next step and a successful platform for further expansion of future cooperation between the media of Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan," Sattarov added.
In his turn, Uzbekistan's Ambassador to Azerbaijan Bakhrom Ashrafkhanov pointed out that the leaders of the two countries – President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev and President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev – have given new impetus to bilateral relations, creating opportunities for joint work in many areas, including politics, culture, education, and media.
"The media plays a key role in this process. Modern media not only inform society but also build trust, strengthen mutual understanding, and foster cultural ties between peoples. Journalists, reporters, bloggers, and media experts act as 'bridges' between countries, helping people better understand each other, breaking down stereotypes, and opening new horizons for cooperation," he noted.
