Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.uz) — Uzbekistan President Shavkat Mirziyoyev has proposed new areas of joint work between Central Asian countries and Azerbaijan in trade, transport, energy, water resources, critical minerals, digital technologies and workforce training.
He made the proposals on 8 October at the eighth Consultative Meeting of the Heads of State of Central Asia and Azerbaijan, held in the Avaza National Tourist Zone in Turkmenistan.
The meeting was chaired by Turkmenistan President Serdar Berdimuhamedov. It was also attended by Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, Kazakhstan President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, Kyrgyzstan President Sadyr Japarov and Tajikistan President Emomali Rahmon.
Speaking at the summit, Mirziyoyev noted positive changes in Central Asia in recent years and emphasized the role of the Consultative Meetings of the Heads of State in strengthening regional cooperation.
He separately highlighted the historic significance of completing the process of concluding the Treaty of Friendship, Good-Neighborliness and Cooperation for the Development of Central Asia in the 21st Century.
According to the Uzbek president, further cooperation should develop without creating cumbersome structures and should be based on mutual respect, trust and pragmatism.
Mirziyoyev also drew attention to changes in the international environment, including rising tensions, the restructuring of trade and transport links, and the emergence of new risks. In these circumstances, he said, coordination of joint action needs to be strengthened.
One of the initiatives was to create a unified space for cooperation with regions linked to Central Asian countries by historical, economic and transport ties. This would involve expanding cooperation in trade, transport, energy, industry and new technologies.
He proposed discussing these issues in detail at the international conference “Interregional Dialogue for Peace and Sustainable Connectivity: The Central Asian Approach”, which is planned to be held in Tashkent next year.
Mirziyoyev also proposed continuing to improve the regulatory framework governing the Consultative Meetings of the Heads of State of Central Asia.
A separate set of proposals focused on economic cooperation. The president said it was necessary to identify specific mechanisms to increase mutual trade and investment. These include joint industrial and technological chains, shared digital services and investment mechanisms to accelerate the launch of major projects.
As a guiding principle, the head of state proposed the formula “six economies — one product”, emphasizing the need to move from simple trade toward joint production of finished goods.
To develop this area, he proposed holding the Central Asia-Azerbaijan Business Forum in Khiva in 2027 and establishing a Platform for Financial and Technical Support for Joint Investment Projects.
The issue is to be considered in detail by the Council of Ministers of Trade and Investment at its next meeting in Ashgabat.
Mirziyoyev paid considerable attention to regional transport connectivity. According to him, Central Asian countries can become one of the key land routes for global trade and a major centre of economic activity. This will require a coordinated policy for developing transport infrastructure, he said.
The president proposed coordinating major infrastructure projects so that manufacturing facilities, logistics and service facilities, as well as industrial zones, are established along transport corridors.
In this regard, he proposed accelerating the establishment of the Infrastructure Development Council and holding its first meeting in Uzbekistan.
Energy was identified as another priority. Mirziyoyev proposed preparing a Joint Concept for Low-Carbon Energy Potential to coordinate the construction of new generating capacity, the development of energy storage systems and the creation of energy corridors.
In the area of water resources and climate change, the president advocated introducing modern digital monitoring systems, modernizing irrigation infrastructure and expanding the use of water-saving technologies.
He also called for the full implementation of the joint initiative for the Decade of Practical Action for the Rational Use of Water in Central Asia.
In connection with Uzbekistan's upcoming chairmanship of the International Fund for Saving the Aral Sea, priorities were presented for improving the organization's effectiveness, launching new environmental projects and attracting additional financing.
The need for ongoing dialogue with Afghanistan on water resources was also highlighted, taking into account the interests of all countries in the region.
Another area was reducing air pollution. Mirziyoyev proposed launching the International Consortium “Clean Air of Central Asia” with a pilot programme for the environmental modernization of industrial zones, agricultural clusters and transport hubs in the region.
In the area of critical minerals, the president called for intensified efforts to establish a Regional Alliance for Critical Minerals. As one of the first steps, he proposed creating a Unified Digital Map of Critical Mineral Reserves in Central Asia.
Technological development was another major focus of his address. Mirziyoyev noted the growing importance of artificial intelligence and big data for industry, transport, energy, agriculture, education and public administration.
In this regard, he proposed pooling the capabilities of regional countries and beginning the creation of Common Computing Infrastructure based on an interconnected network of national data centres.
The president also paid particular attention to human capital. He said that population growth and an increasing share of young people make the quality of education and vocational training among the key factors determining the region's future development.
For more accurate workforce planning, he proposed developing a Regional Atlas of In-Demand Professions and Skills. The atlas should bring together forecasts on professions for which shortages are already being felt or are expected in the coming years.
Based on such an atlas, universities and vocational education institutions will be able to take the needs of the region's economies into account when training specialists for major projects in industry, transport, energy and digital technologies.
Concluding his address, Mirziyoyev emphasized the need to consolidate the progress achieved in recent years and ensure the long-term sustainability of regional cooperation.
Following the summit, the heads of state adopted a Joint Statement and signed decisions on a number of multilateral documents governing cooperation.
