{"id":32689,"date":"2025-11-17T08:01:06","date_gmt":"2025-11-17T06:01:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ir-ia.com\/news\/?p=32689"},"modified":"2025-11-17T08:01:08","modified_gmt":"2025-11-17T06:01:08","slug":"azerbaijan-joins-central-asian-consultative-bloc-as-leaders-convene-in-uzbekistan","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ir-ia.com\/news\/azerbaijan-joins-central-asian-consultative-bloc-as-leaders-convene-in-uzbekistan\/","title":{"rendered":"Azerbaijan joins Central Asian consultative bloc as leaders convene in Uzbekistan"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p><em>5 minute read<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Central Asian leaders convened in Tashkent for the Seventh Consultative Meeting of the Heads of State of Central Asia. All members unanimously approved Azerbaijan\u2019s accession as a full member, a move they described as historic and strategically transformative.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Leaders from Uzbekistan, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Turkmenistan emphasized that Azerbaijan\u2019s inclusion would strengthen political dialogue, deepen economic integration, and enhance coordinated development across two regions that already share strong cultural and historical ties.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>They highlighted the potential for expanded trade, investment, transport, and humanitarian cooperation under this new configuration.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><br><strong>Uzbekistan\u2019s Seven Proposals for Regional Integration<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Strengthening institutional foundations was a central theme throughout the Tashkent meeting. Uzbekistan\u2019s President Shavkat Mirziyoyev presented seven detailed proposals aimed at transforming the current consultative system into a long-term strategic framework named the Community of Central Asia.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The proposed institutional structure includes a rotating Secretariat, a Council of Elders, and expanded roles for national coordinators to ensure sustained and coordinated cooperation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Mirziyoyev\u2019s proposals covered key pillars of regional development. The first emphasized achievements in regional integration, including reopened borders, resolution of previous disputes, and a rise in regional trade to $10.7 billion, supported by a 17 percent increase in investment flows.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The second outlined the creation of stronger institutions under the new Community of Central Asia framework. The third focused on economic growth, proposing a 2035 regional trade program, a common investment space, and increased collaboration in e-commerce.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">An inspiring and truly historic VII Consultative Meeting of the Heads of State of <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/CentralAsia?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#CentralAsia<\/a> has concluded today in <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/Tashkent?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#Tashkent<\/a>.<a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/president_uz?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">@President_Uz<\/a> H.E. Shavkat Mirziyoyev outlined a clear and ambitious vision for building a <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/NewCentralAsia?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#NewCentralAsia<\/a> \u2014 a region of unity, stability, and shared\u2026 <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/N4pK90b5XN\">pic.twitter.com\/N4pK90b5XN<\/a><\/p>&mdash; Bakhtiyor Saidov \ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddff (@FM_Saidov) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/FM_Saidov\/status\/1990026075233984628?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">November 16, 2025<\/a><\/blockquote> <script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>\n\n\n\n<p><br>Transport connectivity formed the fourth pillar, with Uzbekistan urging joint progress on strategic corridors such as the China\u2013Kyrgyzstan\u2013Uzbekistan railway and the Trans-Afghan route. The fifth proposal addressed security issues, supporting the adoption of a regional security concept and encouraging Afghanistan\u2019s participation in major transport and energy projects.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Climate cooperation was the sixth priority, including a proposed Decade for Rational Water Use (2026\u20132036) and the establishment of a regional water excellence center. Finally, Mirziyoyev called for expanded humanitarian exchanges through annual cultural and scientific congresses.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The Uzbek president concluded by stressing that unity is the basis of regional success and congratulated Turkmenistan on assuming the chairmanship of the new Central Asia\u2013Azerbaijan format.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><br><strong>Azerbaijan Emphasizes Strategic Partnership<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev highlighted the deepening partnership between Azerbaijan and Central Asian states, describing the relationship as a strategic one underpinned by political dialogue and growing economic, cultural, and humanitarian cooperation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>He noted Azerbaijan\u2019s rising role in regional connectivity through large-scale infrastructure investments, the rapid expansion of transit volumes along the Middle Corridor, and new initiatives such as the Digital Silk Road and Caspian energy links.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Aliyev expressed appreciation for the support shown by Central Asian countries in the reconstruction of Azerbaijan\u2019s liberated territories.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"alignleft size-large is-resized\"><a href=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.ir-ia.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Azerbaijan-Uzbekistan-leaders-meeting.jpg?ssl=1\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1016\" height=\"665\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.ir-ia.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Azerbaijan-Uzbekistan-leaders-meeting.jpg?resize=1016%2C665&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"Azerbaijan President Ilham Aliyev with Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev\" class=\"wp-image-32692\" style=\"width:840px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.ir-ia.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Azerbaijan-Uzbekistan-leaders-meeting.jpg?resize=1024%2C670&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.ir-ia.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Azerbaijan-Uzbekistan-leaders-meeting.jpg?resize=300%2C196&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.ir-ia.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Azerbaijan-Uzbekistan-leaders-meeting.jpg?resize=768%2C503&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.ir-ia.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Azerbaijan-Uzbekistan-leaders-meeting.jpg?w=1100&amp;ssl=1 1100w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1016px) 100vw, 1016px\" \/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><em><sup>Azerbaijan President Ilham Aliyev with Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev. (Image Credit: Official Website of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan)<\/sup><\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>He described Azerbaijan\u2019s full membership in the Central Asia format as a historic development that would solidify cooperation and expand shared geopolitical and economic opportunities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><br><strong>Calls for Stronger Coordination<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev urged deeper coordination on regional priorities, placing particular emphasis on water security, transport development, and economic integration.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>He proposed a Central Asian Framework Convention on Water Use to manage the region\u2019s shared water resources and recommended the creation of a unified cargo-tracking system to streamline trade.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Tokayev also called for a comprehensive regional transport strategy to enhance the region\u2019s transit potential and facilitate east-west commercial routes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Additionally, he outlined opportunities for collaboration in rare earth metals, artificial intelligence, and tourism. Tokayev welcomed Azerbaijan\u2019s accession to the regional format, echoing the broader sentiment of unity expressed throughout the summit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><br><strong>Key Agreements Signed at the Summit<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The Tashkent meeting concluded with the signing of several significant documents intended to consolidate regional cooperation. Leaders adopted a joint statement reaffirming shared priorities and officially endorsed Azerbaijan\u2019s accession as a full participant in the format. They also expressed support for Kyrgyzstan\u2019s candidacy for the UN Security Council for the 2027\u20132028 term.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The heads of state approved the Concept of Regional Security, Stability, and Sustainable Development in Central Asia, alongside a Catalogue of Security Risks and preventive measures for the 2026\u20132028 period. These documents aim to enhance coordination on emerging challenges and ensure long-term regional stability.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"alignleft size-large is-resized\"><a href=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.ir-ia.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Azerbaijan-Central-Asia-leaders-meeting.jpg?ssl=1\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1016\" height=\"611\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.ir-ia.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Azerbaijan-Central-Asia-leaders-meeting.jpg?resize=1016%2C611&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev, President of Kyrgyzstan Sadyr Japarov, President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, President of Tajikistan Emomali Rahmon, and Uzbekistan President Shavkat Mirziyoyev\" class=\"wp-image-32693\" style=\"width:840px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.ir-ia.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Azerbaijan-Central-Asia-leaders-meeting.jpg?resize=1024%2C616&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.ir-ia.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Azerbaijan-Central-Asia-leaders-meeting.jpg?resize=300%2C181&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.ir-ia.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Azerbaijan-Central-Asia-leaders-meeting.jpg?resize=768%2C462&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.ir-ia.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Azerbaijan-Central-Asia-leaders-meeting.jpg?w=1200&amp;ssl=1 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1016px) 100vw, 1016px\" \/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><em><sup>President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev, President of Kyrgyzstan Sadyr Japarov, President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, President of Tajikistan Emomali Rahmon, and Uzbekistan President Shavkat Mirziyoyev (from left to right). (Image Credit: Official Website of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan)<\/sup><\/em><br><br><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p><br><strong>Visit to the Centre of Islamic Civilization<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Following the official meetings, the presidents of Central Asian states and Azerbaijan visited Uzbekistan\u2019s new Centre of Islamic Civilization. The modern complex combines historical artefacts with scientific, educational, and research functions designed to preserve and promote the region\u2019s Islamic heritage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Leaders toured several sections of the center, including the Holy Quran Hall housing the Mushaf Usman, one of the most significant relics in the Islamic world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>They also visited exhibits covering the Pre-Islamic era, the First Renaissance, the Second Renaissance, and the contemporary period known as \u201cNew Uzbekistan\u2014New Renaissance.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The Tashkent summit reaffirmed the growing cohesion of Central Asian states and opened a new chapter with the full inclusion of Azerbaijan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Leaders framed the outcome as a step toward shaping a unified, stable, and economically interconnected region spanning from the Caspian Sea to major global markets.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Central Asian leaders convened in Tashkent for the Seventh Consultative Meeting of the Heads of State of Central Asia. All members unanimously approved Azerbaijan\u2019s accession as a full member, a move they described as historic and strategically transformative.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":32691,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[124,1],"tags":[143,181,134,273,274,71,113,182,479,275],"class_list":["post-32689","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-asia-pacific","category-news","tag-azerbaijan","tag-central-asia","tag-economy","tag-kazakhstan","tag-kyrgyzstan","tag-politics","tag-security","tag-tajikistan","tag-turkmenistan","tag-uzbekistan"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.ir-ia.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Central-Asia-Azerbaijan-leaders-meeting.jpg?fit=690%2C370&ssl=1","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p7jJWb-8vf","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ir-ia.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/32689","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ir-ia.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ir-ia.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ir-ia.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ir-ia.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=32689"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.ir-ia.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/32689\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":32695,"href":"https:\/\/www.ir-ia.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/32689\/revisions\/32695"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ir-ia.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/32691"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ir-ia.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=32689"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ir-ia.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=32689"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ir-ia.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=32689"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}