On July 31, the Kyrgyz resort city of Cholpon-Ata hosted an informal meeting of the heads of state of Central Asia and Azerbaijan.
The meeting was attended by President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev, President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, President of Kyrgyzstan Sadyr Japarov, President of Tajikistan Emomali Rahmon, President of Turkmenistan Serdar Berdimuhamedov, and President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev.
The heads of state exchanged views on key issues related to sustainable development, economic growth, regional security, and improving the well-being of the peoples of Central Asia and Azerbaijan.
Opening the meeting, President Sadyr Japarov noted that regional cooperation has reached a qualitatively new level in recent years, facilitated by historic agreements reached on state borders and the strengthening of mutual trust.
Japarov paid special attention to developing transport connectivity and energy cooperation, noting the strategic importance of the construction of the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan railway, as well as construction of the Kambarata-1 Hydroelectric Power Plant jointly with Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan.
Speaking at the meeting, Uzbekistan President Shavkat Mirziyoyev emphasized that Azerbaijan’s accession to the Consultative Meetings format elevates cooperation among the countries to a qualitatively new, macro-regional level.
“We are facing a historic opportunity to form a unified development space linking Central Asia, the South Caucasus, and our close neighbor, Afghanistan,” the Uzbek leader said.
Photo: president.kg
