TURKMENBASHI, Turkmenistan, October
8. The Joint Statement signed in Turkmenbashi
city following the 8th Consultative Meeting of the Heads of State
of Central Asia and Azerbaijan on October 8, 2026, highlighted the
significance of the full-fledged participation of Azerbaijan in the
Consultative Meeting of the Heads of State of Central Asia,
Trend’s special
correspondent reports.
In the declaration, the parties emphasized the importance of
Azerbaijan's full-fledged participation in the Consultative
Meeting. Furthermore, the heads of state highly appreciated the
preparatory work undertaken for the organization and holding of the
7th Summit of the Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building
Measures in Asia (CICA), scheduled for October 15, 2026, in
Baku.
In the document, the heads of state reaffirmed their commitment
to strengthening cooperation between their countries within the
framework of the United Nations and other international
organizations of which they are members, and emphasized the
importance of comprehensively and consistently developing
multilateral cooperation, as well as implementing initiatives aimed
at ensuring sustainable development, the well-being of their
peoples, and long-term stability for the Central Asian states and
Azerbaijan.
Furthermore, the parties reaffirmed their commitment to
expanding cooperation in the spheres of regional and international
security, based on respect for state sovereignty, territorial
integrity, and national interests, including in combating
terrorism, extremism, radicalism, illegal migration, transnational
organized crime, cybercrime, the illicit trafficking of narcotics
and arms, and human trafficking, as well as in preventing and
mitigating the consequences of large-scale and transboundary
emergencies.
Emphasizing the significant potential for expanding trade and
economic relations, the heads of state expressed their readiness to
facilitate the further development of trade, the deepening of
investment ties, the expansion of direct business contacts between
economic entities, support for joint ventures, the holding of
regular business forums and exhibitions, the exchange of experience
in supporting small and medium-sized enterprises, and the
development of e-commerce at the regional level.
Furthermore, the heads of state noted the priority importance of
developing integrated regional transport infrastructure and,
emphasizing the significance of the East–West and North–South
international transport corridors as key factors for sustainable
economic growth and the expansion of inter-regional ties, affirmed
the necessity of further developing the transit-transport corridors
passing through their respective territories.
The parties further noted the level of cooperation achieved by
the participating countries in the energy sector and expressed
their interest in further strengthening this cooperation through
the exchange of experience and the exploration of prospects for new
projects, including those aimed at developing energy corridors
connecting Central Asia with Azerbaijan. In this regard, they
highlighted the importance of leveraging the potential of the green
energy production and transmission project involving Azerbaijan,
Kazakhstan, and Uzbekistan. The project aims to establish an energy
corridor for exporting green electricity from Central Asia to
Europe via Azerbaijan.
The parties welcomed the establishment of the International
Telecommunication Union’s Regional Acceleration Center in
Azerbaijan on November 21, 2025, and noted its significant
importance in contributing to the development of digital
innovations, the support of startup ecosystems, and the promotion
of digital transformation in Azerbaijan and the wider region. They
also emphasized that the center's primary objective is to
strengthen innovation and entrepreneurship potential, foster
interaction among ecosystem stakeholders, and accelerate digital
transformation in the region.
The heads of state also pointed out the necessity of
strengthening cooperation in the following areas and expressed
their readiness to support activities undertaken in these
directions:
- developing inter-parliamentary interaction to exchange
experience in legislative activities and implement joint
initiatives, - environmental protection, combating climate change, promoting
the sustainable use of natural resources, adopting environmentally
friendly technologies, and preserving ecosystems and
biodiversity, - exchanging best practices in the fields of advanced
technologies, innovation, the implementation of digital systems,
digital transformation, artificial intelligence, and
scientific-technical progress, - creating favorable conditions for introducing industrial
products into the markets of the participating states, - expanding cooperation in the fields of pharmaceuticals, the
training of medical personnel, and the implementation of digital
solutions and telemedicine services, - further deepening humanitarian cooperation; preserving and
promoting the historical, cultural, and spiritual heritage, as well
as the shared traditions and values that unite our peoples;
supporting initiatives in the fields of art and literature; and
holding special presentations at the UN regarding the rich
spiritual and scientific heritage of great thinkers and scholars
from Central Asia and Azerbaijan, - developing cooperation among the youth in sports, tourism, and
other social spheres that fosters friendship and mutual respect
between the peoples of Central Asia and Azerbaijan, - assisting in strengthening collaboration regarding the
development of tourism zones, as well as promoting tourism products
and enhancing the visibility of the tourism potential of Central
Asian states and Azerbaijan.
