The Chairman of the Halk Maslahaty of Turkmenistan, Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov: The “Central Asia + Azerbaijan” format will strengthen the role of the region’s countries on the global stage

The accession of Azerbaijan to the Consultative Meeting format of the Central Asian states, given its political authority, will help strengthen the role of the countries of Central Asia and Azerbaijan on the global stage as responsible and united partners.

According to "Report", this was stated in a letter from the Chairman of the Halk Maslahaty of Turkmenistan, Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov, addressed to the President of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev.

In his letter, Berdimuhamedov highlighted that he considered it a matter of special pride and honor that, during the Third UN Conference on Landlocked Developing Countries held this August in the “Awaza” National Tourist Zone, Turkmenistan proposed convening an extraordinary Consultative Meeting of the Heads of State of Central Asia. It was at this meeting that Turkmenistan put forward the initiative for Azerbaijan to join the Consultative Meetings as a full-fledged member, thereby becoming an important participant in the format and further strengthening its ties and comprehensive integration with the family of brotherly nations. He expressed great satisfaction that this initiative received the full support of the Presidents of the Central Asian states in Tashkent, marking a highly significant and promising step toward shared prosperity.

Berdimuhamedov further emphasized that Azerbaijan’s accession to the Consultative Meeting format—considering the political authority of the country, its substantial resource, industrial and technological potential, and its achievements in the cultural and humanitarian spheres—will become a defining factor in deepening the comprehensive rapprochement of the two nations. He noted that this step will stimulate active participation in contemporary regional and international development processes and enhance the influence of the Central Asian countries and Azerbaijan on the global arena as responsible, cohesive partners who understand their rightful place in the international system and who stand ready to work together to achieve common goals.