At the conclusion of the 7th Consultative Meeting of the Heads of State of Central Asia, a historic decision was made to admit the Republic of Azerbaijan as a full-fledged participant of the format. In a joint statement, the leaders emphasized that the Consultative Meetings have proven to be an effective international platform for discussing key areas of regional partnership, coordinating positions, and developing joint solutions to pressing issues.
The statement highlighted that strong friendly ties, mutually beneficial cooperation, and shared strategic interests between the Central Asian states and Azerbaijan form a natural foundation for expanding the format and deepening collaboration. According to the leaders, Azerbaijan’s accession reflects a unified commitment to creating a common space of trust, solidarity, and sustainable development.
Kazakhstan’s President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev described the decision as historic and expressed confidence that Azerbaijan’s participation will significantly enhance the region’s cooperation potential. In a similar tone, Uzbekistan’s President Shavkat Mirziyoyev noted that this step paves the way for building a strong strategic bridge between Central Asia and the South Caucasus. He stated that forming a unified cooperation space will strengthen stability, international agency, and economic connectivity across both regions.
Mirziyoyev further stressed that Azerbaijan’s involvement will amplify the region’s voice on global platforms, while the expansion of the “Central Asia +” framework becomes a logical stage in reinforcing solidarity and joint development.
The leaders characterized the seventh meeting as evidence of their commitment to systematic dialogue, coordinated decision-making, and defining new long-term priorities aimed at regional prosperity and sustainable growth.
