Bishkek: "Azerbaijan will be an active member of the Consultative Meeting format," President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev announced during an informal meeting of the presidents of Azerbaijan and Central Asian countries, as reported by APA's correspondent in Kyrgyzstan. The president emphasized that fostering relations with Central Asian countries remains a key priority in Azerbaijan's foreign policy agenda.

According to Azeri-Press News Agency, President Aliyev highlighted the frequency of high-level exchanges over the past three and a half years, noting his 16 visits to Central Asian nations and 26 reciprocal visits by Central Asian leaders to Azerbaijan. These interactions, he stated, underscore the growing geopolitical and geo-economic synergy between Central Asia and Azerbaijan. President Aliyev also expressed his appreciation for the decision made in Uzbekistan last year to grant Azerbaijan full membership in the Consultative Meeting format, marking his first participation in this capacity.

President Aliyev assured that Azerbaijan is committed to being an active participant in the Consultative Meeting format and vowed to enhance cooperation and strengthen the ties between the involved countries and their peoples.