Tashkent hosts roundtable on the outcomes of the 7th Consultative Meeting of the Heads of State of Central Asia

A high-level roundtable was held at the International Institute of Central Asia in Tashkent, bringing together the ambassadors of Central Asian states accredited to Uzbekistan, representatives of the expert community, and members of the diplomatic corps, dedicated to the outcomes of the Seventh Consultative Meeting of the Heads of State of Central Asia and the practical implementation of the initiatives put forward by the region’s leaders, reports Dunyo IA correspondent.

The Seventh Consultative Meeting of the Heads of State of Central Asia took place in Tashkent on 16 November 2025 - an event that many members of the diplomatic corps are already describing as historic. Chaired by the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan, Shavkat Mirziyoyev, the summit marked a new phase in regional cooperation, reinforcing the architecture of mutual trust and reaffirming the countries’ commitment to advancing a more sustainable and structured partnership. According to Javlon Vakhabov, Director of the International Institute of Central Asia, the forum represents a significant milestone in shaping a "new Central Asia" - a region that, for the first time, is moving toward establishing its own institutional model of cooperation based on equality, mutual respect, and shared responsibility for the future.

A particularly significant outcome of the summit was the decision to admit Azerbaijan as a full-fledged participant in the Consultative Format. As noted by Huseyn Guliyev, the Ambassador of Azerbaijan to Uzbekistan, Baku’s inclusion marks a qualitatively new era of interregional cooperation, linking Central Asia with the South Caucasus and opening additional logistical and energy opportunities. He emphasized that Uzbekistan - the initiator and driving force behind this format since 2018 - has succeeded in transforming it into an effective platform for aligning regional policies, one that has moved beyond formality and evolved into a venue for practical, results-oriented decision-making.

Beibut Atamkulov, the Ambassador of Kazakhstan to Uzbekistan, in assessing the outcomes of the summit, drew attention to the symbolism of the fact that this was the seventh meeting. In Kazakh culture, the number seven carries a special meaning - symbolizing harmony, completeness, and stability. For that reason, he noted, the Seventh Meeting has become particularly significant: it confirmed that the Consultative Format has evolved into a fully fledged political institution equipped with both mechanisms of influence and strategic depth. He further emphasized that the initiative launched by the President of Uzbekistan seven years ago gave powerful momentum to political transformation across the region, while the personal, trust-based relationship among the leaders has served as the foundation for all the progress achieved to date.

Following the summit, the countries of the region signed a Joint Statement, the Concept of Regional Security, and the Central Asia Risk Catalogue - the first document of its kind designed to systematize shared challenges and threats. According to the Director of the International Institute of Central Asia, these agreements elevate regional cooperation to an entirely new level, enabling coordination not only on economic matters but also on security, environmental issues, water resources and energy policy.

The meeting devoted considerable attention to water and energy cooperation. Kazakhstan, as its ambassador noted, proposed the development of a Framework Convention on Water Use, while Uzbekistan put forward an initiative to establish a Regional Competence Centre for Water Management. Experts say that the complementarity of these proposals reflects not only a shared vision but also a growing alignment of regional initiatives — an evolution that makes it possible to move beyond declarations toward practical, jointly implemented projects.

The economic initiatives announced by the President of Uzbekistan, Shavkat Mirziyoyev, attracted significant interest at the summit. He proposed the development of a Regional Trade and Economic Cooperation Programme through 2035, the adoption of a Declaration on a Common Investment Space, and the strengthening of cooperation in e-commerce. These proposals received wide support from participants, reflecting the region’s ambition to evolve into a unified economic cluster capable of attracting investment, enhancing competitiveness, and establishing common standards.

The summit also placed particular emphasis on enhancing regional transport connectivity. The Ambassador of Azerbaijan highlighted that this sector is crucial for the region’s shared future, noting Azerbaijan’s active role in the development of the Middle Corridor and its major ports and logistics infrastructure linking Central Asia to Europe. Meanwhile, the Ambassador of Kazakhstan drew attention to his country’s proposal to develop a common strategy for the region’s transport system, and noted Kyrgyzstan’s initiative to launch the digital platform "Digital Transit Corridor". Uzbekistan proposed the establishment of a Council for Infrastructure Development and emphasized the need to accelerate the China–Kyrgyzstan–Uzbekistan railway projects and the Trans-Afghan Corridor.

Participants at the roundtable attached great importance to the programmatic article by the President of Uzbekistan, "Central Asia on the verge of a New Era", published on the eve of the summit. The article outlined the future contours of regional integration, including the transformation of the Consultative Meetings into a "Central Asia Community" format, the establishment of a Secretariat and a Council of Elders, and the strengthening of the role of national coordinators. According to Javlon Vakhabov, Deputy Adviser to the President of Uzbekistan on Foreign Policy, these measures are expected to lend systematic structure to regional cooperation and create institutional mechanisms capable of ensuring the long-term implementation of agreements reached.

The Ambassador of Kazakhstan emphasized that the region is demonstrating a high level of self-sufficiency. He cited specific figures: trade turnover among Central Asian countries amounts to approximately $11 billion, while annual economic growth reaches 6%, surpassing the global average. Central Asia holds 20% of the world’s uranium reserves, 17% of oil, 7% of natural gas, as well as significant coal and iron ore resources. Combined with investments in industrial cooperation, the expansion of transport corridors, and strengthened energy collaboration, the region is building tangible foundations for long-term development.

In his remarks, the Ambassador of Azerbaijan noted that Uzbekistan laid the foundation for modern regional consolidation, restoring trust among neighboring states after a prolonged period of disunity. He emphasized that the political will of the leaders has enabled a shift from closed borders, visa barriers, and unresolved disputes to an atmosphere of cooperation and mutual benefit.

All participants at the roundtable agreed that Central Asia has ceased to be a zone of geopolitical rivalry and has emerged as an autonomous center of international politics. According to the Ambassador of Kazakhstan, the region is no longer a passive object but an active subject of global processes, capable of generating initiatives and defending unified positions on the international stage.

In conclusion, experts and diplomats emphasized that the Seventh Consultative Meeting has marked the starting point of a new phase of regional integration. The deepening of political dialogue, the institutionalization of cooperation, the expansion of the format to C–6, the advancement of transport, water, and energy projects, as well as the alignment of leaders’ initiatives, create unique conditions for building a secure, prosperous, and interconnected Central Asia. As one participant noted, the region is no longer merely discussing its future - it is actively shaping it through its own efforts.