Leaders of Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan Issue Joint Statement Following High-Level Meeting

Statement by Chairman Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov:

• Dear media representatives, ladies and gentlemen,

First, I want to thank the leaders of Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan for participating in today’s meeting and accepting the invitation to the trilateral summit.

Today’s meeting holds historic significance for multilateral relations. During the negotiations, we discussed various aspects of cooperation, strengthening multilateral engagement, particularly in political, economic, and cultural-humanitarian spheres. Turkmenistan, Azerbaijan, and Uzbekistan maintain an open dialogue and support each other's initiatives within international organizations, including the UN. This dialogue is conducted on an equal footing, both trilaterally and regionally, to strengthen peace and stability.

Regarding economic cooperation, we reviewed the potential of our countries, which contributes to the development of not only our states but the entire Eurasian region. This cooperation will enhance geo-economic collaboration in our region, with successful examples such as cooperation in the energy sector.

We discussed deepening strategic partnership in the gas sector and agreed on our readiness to strengthen cooperation further.

Transport is a key area of bilateral cooperation. To restore the Great Silk Road, we agreed to expand contacts through connecting transport corridors linking Europe and Asia. In particular, we considered the possibility of strengthening transport infrastructure in Central Asia and the Caspian Basin.

Within the multilateral dialogue, we agreed to enhance humanitarian ties, especially in education, science, sports, healthcare, arts, carpet weaving, and other areas. We have good cooperation experience in these fields. Overall, this meeting opens new opportunities for strengthening trilateral ties, and we must work diligently to achieve our goals.

I take this opportunity to thank the leaders of the two countries and wish prosperity to the peoples of Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan. Thank you.

Statement by President Shavkat Mirziyoyev:

• Dear media representatives, ladies and gentlemen,

First, I sincerely thank the National Leader of the Turkmen people, Chairman Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov, for organizing today’s meeting at a high level and the warm hospitality.

Two weeks ago, here in unique Avaza, an important UN forum—the third international conference on landlocked developing countries—was held.

In the International Year of Peace and Trust, acute regional issues were at the center of global discussions.

Once again, I congratulate the brotherly people of Turkmenistan on this great achievement of positive neutrality policy.

I also warmly congratulate President Ilham Aliyev and the brotherly people of Azerbaijan on the historic signing of the Joint Declaration with Armenia in Washington. This is a vivid testament to the courage and steadfastness of the Azerbaijani people. Establishing long-term peace and stability in the South Caucasus will unlock vast potential for cooperation in economic, transport, energy, and humanitarian fields.

I am deeply satisfied with the constructive and productive trilateral negotiations today. Our meeting clearly demonstrated the firm political will to deepen strategic partnership in the interests of our peoples.

Considering geographic location, economic complementarity, and transport-communication connectivity, such cooperation will benefit all of us.

In unpredictable global political processes and changing economic conditions, our partnership aims to ensure sustainable development.

We paid special attention to developing transit corridors, including effective use of the ports of Turkmenbashi and Baku, and creating modern logistics infrastructure.

We discussed plans to integrate existing and prospective routes to deepen national transport system integration. Uzbekistan advocates a coordinated policy in this area, especially concerning tariff policy and creating favorable business conditions for accessing international markets. We agreed to jointly work on logistics infrastructure and ferry transport projects across the Caspian Sea.

Additionally, we reviewed cooperation opportunities in the energy sector, including promising projects for hydrocarbon fields development and electricity exports. A central topic was significantly increasing trade volumes and expanding industrial cooperation.

Conditions will be created to implement new investment projects fully utilizing regional potentials. Cooperation will expand in rational water use and combating environmental threats.

Moreover, we proposed adopting a joint program in tourism and cultural exchanges.

The implementation of agreements and signed documents will be handled by relevant ministries based on a “roadmap.”

Dear participants,

In conclusion, I want to emphasize that today’s historic meeting will deepen mutually beneficial cooperation, create sustainable trade, transport, and energy corridors, and accelerate regional integration processes.

Thank you for your attention.

Statement by President Ilham Aliyev:

• Dear Gurbanguly Myalikgulyevich, dear Shavkat Miromonovich, dear friends,

First of all, I want to thank my brother Gurbanguly Myalikgulyevich for the invitation and hospitality.

This is my second visit to Avaza city, and the ongoing development here clearly shows the country is in reliable hands. Thanks to the wise leadership of Gurbanguly Myalikgulyevich, Avaza and other cities and villages are being developed and improved, new cities are being built. Among the documents signed today is an agreement on establishing sister-city relations between Arkadag and Fizuli, symbolizing our brotherhood. The Turkmen and Azerbaijani peoples have lived and created as one family and brothers for centuries. Today, two independent states remain faithful to these traditions and move toward new horizons together.

At my invitation, Gurbanguly Myalikgulyevich visited Azerbaijan in July. We spent two days together in Baku and the Karabakh region, discussing many issues. Our positions coincide. The main thing is that Turkmenistan and Azerbaijan will continue to move forward side by side as two brotherly countries, solving all issues in a friendly and brotherly atmosphere and expanding opportunities for bilateral and multilateral cooperation.

In Fizuli, Gurbanguly Myalikgulyevich proposed to build a mosque as a gift from Turkmenistan, which I gratefully accepted. Although only a month has passed, the architectural design is ready, and the foundation will soon be laid. This exemplifies the support of the Turkmen people and their leader for the Azerbaijani people and symbolizes our brotherhood.

Recently, with the same brotherly feelings, we welcomed my brother Shavkat Mirziyoyev. We were together at the OES summit in Khankendi. In Khankendi, we visited a large sewing factory established on the initiative of Shavkat Mirziyoyev. Currently, over two hundred people work there, the vast majority women. With factory expansion, the number of employees will increase several times. This is a great gift from the brotherly Uzbek people to Azerbaijan and the Karabakh region. The first such gift in Karabakh’s revival was a secondary school for 960 students in Fizuli, named after the great Uzbek thinker Mirzo Ulugbek, opened with our participation and currently attended by hundreds of young Karabakhis. They express their gratitude to the brotherly Uzbek people and their leader Shavkat Mirziyoyev every time they pass by this school.

This friendship and brotherhood are proven by deeds, not words. Our brothers have always stood by us in the most important and difficult matters. This is true today as well. This is a historic meeting, a historic summit. I want to express my gratitude again to its initiator, my brother Gurbanguly Myalikgulyevich.

The issues discussed have already been mentioned, so I will not repeat them. But I can say this: instructions have been given to the relevant state bodies to create a trilateral cooperation format and present proposals on specific areas for our next meeting. All instructions have been given. I repeat, transport, transit, logistics, electric power, oil and gas sectors, cultural ties. And I have no doubt that all instructions will be fulfilled on time.

Joining my colleagues’ opinions, in conclusion, I want to say once again that this is a historic day. A new, very promising cooperation format aimed at peace and partnership is being created in our region. Let it bring benefits and success. Thank you.