Turkmenbashi:The 8th Consultative Meeting of the Heads of State of the Republic of Azerbaijan and Central Asia was held in Turkmenbashi, Turkmenistan.
According to Azeri-Press news agency, the meeting was attended by President Ilham Aliyev of Azerbaijan, who addressed the gathering after being welcomed by President Serdar Berdimuhamedov of Turkmenistan.
In his speech, President Aliyev expressed gratitude to Turkmenistan for its hospitality and highlighted the evolving relations between Azerbaijan and Central Asian countries. He noted Azerbaijan's full participation in the Consultative Meeting since November last year, emphasizing the dynamic development of Azerbaijan-Turkmenistan relations, reflected in five high-level visits over the past year.
President Aliyev underscored the significance of mutual support among the countries, citing the construction of a mosque in Fuzuli, Azerbaijan, initiated by Turkmenistan. He also acknowledged Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, and Kyrgyzstan for their contributions to educational and cultural projects in Azerbaijan's liberated territories.
The President highlighted Azerbaijan's expanding cooperation with Central Asia, marked by a 50 percent increase in trade last year and active participation of over 400 Central Asian-funded companies in Azerbaijan. He stressed the importance of joint investment and industrial cooperation, including the establishment of joint investment funds with Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and Kyrgyzstan.
Transport and energy sectors were identified as key areas for collaboration, with investments in infrastructure across the Caspian Sea and the development of a green energy corridor involving Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan. President Aliyev emphasized the strategic importance of these projects for regional connectivity and international market access.
The meeting also included discussions on broader regional cooperation, with leaders proposing initiatives in artificial intelligence, cultural exchange, and tourism to foster closer ties among the participating countries.