TURKMENBASHI, Turkmenistan, October 8. The
eighth Consultative Meeting of the Heads of State of Central Asia
and Azerbaijan is of historic significance as it is being held for
the first time with the participation of Azerbaijan, Uzbek
President Shavkat Mirziyoyev said on Oct. 8 in Avaza, Turkmenistan,
Trend's special correspondent
reports.


“Today, our meeting is of particular significance as it is being
held for the first time together with brotherly Azerbaijan,” he
said.


Mirziyoyev particularly noted Turkmenistan’s successful
chairmanship.


“Over the past year, we have made significant progress in
regional cooperation on many important issues and reached specific
agreements. Central Asia has changed significantly in recent years.
The atmosphere of relations between our countries has also changed.
We meet more often, openly discuss issues, find solutions and
support each other. Our consultative meetings have played an
important role in this.


“When creating this format, we proceeded from a simple
understanding: the prosperity and security of Central Asia directly
depend on trust among our states.


“The completion of the procedure for concluding the Treaty on
Friendship, Good-Neighborliness and Cooperation for the Development
of Central Asia in the 21st Century was a historic event.







“At the same time, we are not seeking to create cumbersome
structures. We need a flexible and clear format in which strong,
sovereign and independent states cooperate based on mutual respect,
trust and pragmatism. This approach has already produced results,”
he said.


The Uzbek president said the region is now represented more
confidently and prominently on the international stage.


“This is demonstrated by the growing interest in the Central
Asia Plus format, as well as the continued expansion of the circle
of our external partners.


“Our rapprochement is taking place in a challenging environment.
The world is changing rapidly, tensions are rising, trade and
transport links are being reconfigured, and new risks are emerging.
In such circumstances, it is important to coordinate our actions
even more closely,” he said.