An international conference on the topic of "Central Asian Countries-Azerbaijan: A New Era of Friendship" was held within the framework of the "Central Asia and Azerbaijan" friendship forum in the Fergana region of Uzbekistan.

Valeh Hajiyev, the First Deputy Chairman of the State Committee on Work with Diaspora of the Republic of Azerbaijan, and committee employees participated in the conference. 

Prior to the event, the “Friendship Stele” in the Fergana region was visited. The event participants expressed their respect by laying floral bouquets before the monument, which is considered a symbol of friendly and brotherly relations between the peoples. 

At the conference, Kahraman Sariyev, Chairman of the Committee on Interethnic Relations and Friendly Ties with Foreign Countries of the Republic of Uzbekistan, Kamchybek Dosmatov, First Deputy Minister of Labour, Social Security, and Migration of the Kyrgyz Republic, Ibrahim Abdullozoda, representative of the Tajikistan Society of Friendship and Cultural Relations, Alibek Jurkadam, Vice President of the “Otandastar” Foundation of the Republic of Kazakhstan, as well as other officials and experts, delivered speeches. 

Conveying the greetings of the Committee Chairman Fuad Muradov to the participants, Valeh Hajiyev stated that as a result of the mutual political will of the heads of state of Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan, relations between the two countries have risen to the level of strategic partnership.  He noted that as a result of the intensification of political dialogue, trade, economic, cultural, humanitarian, and interregional ties have developed consistently.  He recalled the creation of the garden named after Heydar Aliyev and the “Azerbaijan” park in Tashkent, as well as the “Uzbekistan” park in Baku, as successful examples of bilateral cooperation.  Touching upon the large-scale restoration and reconstruction work carried out in the liberated territories, he highly appreciated the contributions of Uzbekistan to the construction of the Mirza Ulugbek secondary school in Füzuli, Kazakhstan to the Kurmangazy Children's Creativity Centre in Füzuli, and Kyrgyzstan to the training centre in Aghdam. 

Finally, an agreement was reached on transforming the forum into a permanently operating dialogue platform, as well as the implementation of joint initiatives and programs aimed at the sustainable development of the Fergana region. 

Additionally, a number of individuals who actively participated in the event, including Valeh Hajiyev, were awarded the “Friendship of Nations” (“Xalqlar dostluğu”) badge. 

Within the framework of the conference, a bilateral meeting was also held between Kahraman Sariyev and Valeh Hajiyev. 

During the meeting, a number of issues were discussed, including the further strengthening of solidarity, cooperation, and coordination between diasporas against the background of the friendly and brotherly relations of our countries that have developed over time.