BAKU, Azerbaijan, August 12. Friendly relations between Azerbaijan and Central Asian countries are strengthening, said political analyst Azer Garayev, TurkicWorld reports.
He stated that President Ilham Aliyev, during his participation in the meeting with Central Asian heads of state, highlighted Azerbaijan's increasing international authority and strategic importance.
The analyst pointed out that Azerbaijan's involvement in this format, thanks to the president's personal touch and forward-thinking strategies, highlights Azerbaijan's position as a reliable regional partner.
"This event illustrates the deepening historical and friendly ties between Azerbaijan and Central Asian nations. Cooperation has been progressing successfully in both bilateral and multilateral settings. This includes collaborations within international organizations such as the OTS, the SCO, the UN's SPECA program, the CIS, and the OIC. High-level visits have significantly contributed to elevating these relations to a strategic partnership," Garayev said.
He highlighted that trade and economic ties are also on the rise, with Azerbaijan's trade turnover with Central Asia hitting $1.4 billion in 2023.
"The Middle Corridor, a vital transportation and logistics route, is crucial for enhancing connections between Azerbaijan and Central Asia. Additionally, cooperation in the green energy sector is notable, as exemplified by the 2023 'Memorandum of Cooperation on the Unification of Energy Systems of Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, and Uzbekistan,' which aims to achieve joint objectives," the political analyst emphasized.
The partnership between Azerbaijan and Central Asian countries, according to Garayev, has great potential for future development and reinforces Azerbaijan's strategic importance in regional and international contexts.
