The Presidents of Central Asian countries have been engaging in meetings in order to foster trust and further develop relations between the states of the region, promote multifaceted partnership, and strengthen security. This initiative was proposed by President Shavkat Mirziyoyev in 2017, and it has since become a platform for effectively dealing with current issues and considering the interests of all countries in the region.
Given the current geopolitical turbulence, it is essential to develop a unified approach to protecting Central Asia. To this end, President Mirziyoyev proposed forming working groups on security and holding regular meetings of these structures, which would enable the countries to establish interaction, come up with coordinated approaches to key regional and international security issues, identify common challenges and threats, and take joint preventive measures to counter them.
At the Fifth Consultative Meeting of the Heads of State of Central Asia in Dushanbe, several documents were adopted, the most important of which is the Joint Statement of the Heads of State of Central Asia, which reflects the results of the work to create a single space of cooperation with a dynamically developing trade, investment, transport, and logistics potential. Additionally, an Agreement on the general directions of youth policy was signed.
The event also included the Economic Forum, the International Exhibition of National Products, the Meeting of Members of the Dialogue of Women Leaders of Central Asia, the Exhibition of Artists, the First Forum of Rectors of Higher Education Institutions, the Meeting of Ministers of Transport, and the Gala Concert of Masters of Culture and Art of the Central Asian States.
The meeting, held in a constructive and trusting atmosphere, has given a strong impetus to the development of comprehensive interaction between the countries, and the agreements reached are of great importance for the process of regional cooperation, security, and stability in the region.
Shukhrat Kabilov,
Chief Researcher at IICA