The leaders of five Central Asian countries and Azerbaijan have called for closer cooperation in trade, transport, energy and water management. The next challenge will be turning their proposals into concrete agreements and joint projects.
Eurasianet reports that at the eighth Consultative Meeting of the Heads of State of Central Asia and Azerbaijan, held in Turkmenistan on October 8, the six countries agreed on the need for closer regional coordination in trade, transport and security, according to a joint statement issued after the meeting.
Turkmenistan, the host country, signaled its readiness to strengthen regional cooperation by developing infrastructure to expand trade and support the digitalization of regional economies. Given Ashgabat’s traditionally cautious approach to regional integration, President Serdar Berdimuhamedov’s call for a more coordinated approach to shared challenges stood out.
Berdimuhamedow reportedly said one of Turkmenistan’s diplomatic priorities was to realize the “potential of the six-party partnership, preserving and strengthening the spirit of solidarity, unity and mutual support.”
He also expressed hope that the meeting would “inject new momentum into trade, economic and investment cooperation” and help transform Central Asia and Azerbaijan into key participants in transport, logistics, energy and industrial corridors.
Trans-Caspian pipeline back on the agenda
The meeting’s joint statement highlighted the importance of developing transport and logistics links across the Caspian Sea. The long-discussed Trans-Caspian gas pipeline, which has faced obstacles for years, is among the projects that could benefit from closer regional coordination.
Berdimuhamedow called for substantive negotiations and practical action to improve transport connectivity, highlighting the potential of the Central Asia–Caspian Sea–South Caucasus–Europe corridor.
Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev reportedly also called for new mechanisms to address regional trade and development challenges.
“We need a flexible and transparent format in which strong, sovereign and independent states cooperate on the basis of mutual respect, trust and pragmatism,” he said. “We have already set ambitious goals for increasing mutual trade and investment. Now it is necessary to determine what will drive this growth.”
Among his proposals was the creation of a Regional Atlas of In-Demand Professions and Skills to help countries train workers for sectors expected to drive development, including mining, tourism and information technology.
Water management emerges as a key challenge
Water scarcity and the management of shared water resources also featured prominently at the meeting.
Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev said the economic development goals of all six countries depended in part on their ability to ensure reliable water supplies for industrial and household needs.
“We face the task of developing new approaches to the management of transboundary water resources,” Tokayev said. “The adoption of a Central Asian Framework Convention on Water Use could serve as a starting point for shaping a new regional architecture of cooperation. This draft document is already under consideration by all parties.”
Mirziyoyev, meanwhile, proposed establishing a permanent mechanism for dialogue with Afghanistan on water use, taking into account the interests of all countries in the region.
However, these proposals were not included in the joint statement, which largely outlined broad principles and shared aspirations rather than specific commitments.
Whether the six countries can agree on a regional water convention or establish mechanisms to address workforce and economic development needs before their next meeting in 2027 will offer an indication of how far they are prepared to move from declarations of intent to practical cooperation.