Mirziyoyev calls for deeper regional integration at Central Asia-Azerbaijan Summit

President Shavkat Mirziyoyev advocated for enhanced regional integration during an informal summit of Central Asian and Azerbaijani heads of state held on July 31 in Cholpon-Ata, Kyrgyzstan.

The gathering included Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov, Tajik President Emomali Rahmon, and Turkmen President Serdar Berdimuhamedov.

Mirziyoyev commenced his address by noting the meeting's timing, preceding the 35th anniversary of independence for the region's nations. He stated, "Over these years, each country has followed its own unique and unrepeatable path of state-building, economic growth, and national revival. Thanks to our joint efforts, a once-fragmented Central Asia is now consolidating around shared development goals."

He further emphasized that "a complex and unpredictable international landscape" necessitates "decisive action and closer coordination" from the region. Mirziyoyev added that Azerbaijan's participation in the consultative meeting elevates cooperation to a new, macro-regional level.

The Uzbek leader declared, "We now have a historic opportunity to build a unified space for development that brings together Central Asia, the South Caucasus, and our close neighbor, Afghanistan."

Mirziyoyev asserted, "The time has come to move toward building a sustainable architecture for regional cooperation." He suggested that such a framework should be founded on effective cooperation institutions, close contacts between sectoral agencies, direct regional ties, and long-term joint programs in key development areas.

He underscored that bolstering the region's international standing requires greater coordination within interstate organizations and "Central Asia Plus" formats.

The president stated, "Further steps to strengthen trade, economic, and transport connectivity, to build out end-to-end industrial and technological supply chains, to develop shared digital services, and to launch investment platforms all call for detailed, substantive work."

Mirziyoyev also expressed his vision for Central Asia to become "a competitive hub for education, science, and innovation in big data," achievable by constructing an integrated infrastructure that combines human capital, artificial intelligence technologies, data centers, and energy capacity.

He highlighted environmental protection as a regional priority, noting that emerging natural challenges "do not recognize state borders," thus requiring a collective response.

Mirziyoyev remarked, "This summer's extreme heat has once again shown that climate change is already a factor directly affecting the economy, water and energy security, public health, and quality of life. It's essential that we find long-term solutions for adapting to these new risks together."

The Uzbek leader also stressed the enduring importance of the humanitarian dimension in regional cooperation.

He observed, "Our peoples have lived side by side for centuries, building trade ties and exchanging knowledge and cultural traditions. While preserving the distinct national identity of each of our peoples, a broader shared regional identity is gradually taking shape." Mirziyoyev expressed confidence that a qualitative renewal in this area would foster "a sense of unity, solidarity, and mutual understanding" among the region's populations.