Ahmad Ismayilov: Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan strengthen media cooperation

Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan are intensifying efforts to strengthen cooperation between their media entities, Ahmad Ismayilov, Executive Director of the Media Development Agency, said at the Azerbaijan-Uzbekistan Media Forum titled "In Search of Truth in the Digital Age: Combating Disinformation" held in Tashkent, the capital of Uzbekistan.

According to Report's correspondent seconded to Uzbekistan, Ismayilov emphasized that the brotherly relations between the two countries are further strengthening as a result of the political will of Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev. The intensive ties, which have made a significant contribution to the development of the regions, are dynamically influencing all spheres, including media.

"The mutual visits of the leaders of both countries are an important historic event in terms of developing relations and strategic partnership between the Turkic states. These visits, as well as the documents signed within their framework, are a clear manifestation of the friendship and brotherhood between the Azerbaijani and Uzbek peoples," noted Ismayilov.

He highlighted that the official state visit of the Azerbaijani President to Uzbekistan in August this year is of exceptional importance and laid the foundation for a new historical stage in relations. The "Treaty on Allied Relations between the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Republic of Uzbekistan" was signed as part of the visit on August 23, making the two brotherly peoples and two independent, strong, sovereign, and authoritative states official allies.

"Allied relations, in turn, give a strong impetus to the development of mutual cooperation in the media sphere and the implementation of fundamental projects," the head of the Media Development Agency added.

Ismayilov also mentioned that work is underway to establish cooperation between the responsible organizations of Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan in the field of media development and coordination, develop the activities of structural units of state bodies of the two countries responsible for communication, organize the exchange of experience in the field of media education and media literacy, as well as strengthen cooperation between media entities.

He also noted that the Azerbaijan-Uzbekistan Media Forum once again raises the issue of combating disinformation in the media agenda, emphasizing that the fight against this problem is international in nature. Ismayilov expressed confidence that the forum will be significant in terms of finding a way out of the current situation.

He also added that this year, the agenda of the Azerbaijani media is quite busy, with the 29th session of the Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP29) set to take place in Azerbaijan in November. Ismayilov called on Uzbek colleagues and respected media representatives participating in the forum to provide comprehensive and large-scale coverage of the steps and preparations carried out in Azerbaijan in connection with COP29, the fight against the consequences of climate change at the national level, the sustainable approach demonstrated in the process of restoration and reconstruction in the liberated territories, and the initiatives put forward by Azerbaijan in the name of a green world, and to ensure media support at various levels.