Turkmenbashi: A high-level meeting took place in the city of Turkmenbashi, bringing together leaders from Turkmenistan, the Republic of Azerbaijan, and the Republic of Uzbekistan. The summit, held on August 22, featured the participation of President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev, Chairman of the Halk Maslakhaty of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov, and President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev, who posed for a joint photograph to mark the occasion.
According to Azerbaijan State News Agency, the meeting included speeches from Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov and Shavkat Mirziyoyev. President Ilham Aliyev also addressed the summit, expressing his gratitude to Berdimuhamedov for organizing the event and initiating the trilateral meeting. Aliyev highlighted the shared cultural and historical ties between the three nations, emphasizing the strategic interests that bind them.
Aliyev praised Turkmenistan’s socioeconomic development under Berdimuhamedov’s leadership and recalled Berdimuhamedov’s recent visit to Azerbaijan, which he described as fruitful. During that visit, the leaders discussed various initiatives, including the establishment of twinning relations between the cities of Fuzuli in Azerbaijan and Arkadag in Turkmenistan. Aliyev also expressed gratitude for Turkmenistan’s decision to build a mosque in Fuzuli, viewing it as a symbol of solidarity.
The Azerbaijani President spoke about the strong alliance with Uzbekistan, underscoring mutual support and shared strategic goals. He acknowledged Uzbekistan’s contribution to the restoration of Azerbaijan’s liberated territories, highlighting the construction of a secondary school in Fuzuli and other collaborative projects. Aliyev also noted the ongoing construction of the ‘Uzbekistan’ park in Baku.
In discussing the trilateral cooperation’s future, Aliyev pointed out the geostrategic significance of Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan as connectors between East and West, North and South. The leaders explored opportunities for enhanced transport and transit cooperation, focusing on the Middle Corridor and expansion of ports and railways.
Energy cooperation also featured prominently in the discussions, with Aliyev acknowledging existing partnerships with Turkmenistan and recent developments with Uzbekistan. He noted that Azerbaijan’s state oil company SOCAR is actively involved in oil exploration in Uzbekistan, with expectations of promising outcomes.
The summit underscored a commitment to deepening relations across various sectors, paving the way for stronger ties and collaborative efforts among the three nations.