Central Asia Regional Cooperation Mechanism Expands: Azerbaijan Formally Joins the Consultative Meeting of Heads of State and Advances the Vision of a "New Central Asia"

On November 16, 2025, the Seventh Consultative Meeting of Heads of State of Central Asia was held, chaired by President Shavkat Mirziyoyev of the Republic of Uzbekistan. This meeting marked a significant upgrade to the Central Asia regional cooperation mechanism: the Republic of Azerbaijan joined the consultation meeting mechanism as a full member, expanding the original "C5" structure to a "C5+1" model. Participants included the presidents of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Turkmenistan, as well as Kakha Imnadze, Director of the United Nations Regional Centre for Preventive Diplomacy in Central Asia. This expansion is seen as a milestone in deepening connectivity between Central Asia and the South Caucasus region, and also injects new variables into the global geoeconomic landscape.

I. Expanding the Mechanism: The Strategic Significance of Moving from "C5" to "C6"

At the outset of the meeting, Mirziyoyev announced Azerbaijan's formal accession to the consultation mechanism, emphasizing that this decision "fully aligns with the interests of our peoples, who share a common history, kinship, and close spiritual and cultural ties." He further stated, "In essence, we will build a solid bridge between Central Asia and the South Caucasus, paving the way for a unified cooperative space, which will undoubtedly enhance strategic connectivity and resilience in both regions."

Azerbaijan's accession highlights the openness and inclusiveness of the Central Asian regional cooperation mechanism. As a Caspian littoral state and a Eurasian transport hub, Azerbaijan not only possesses energy advantages but is also a key node in the "Middle Corridor" (the trans-Caspian international transport route). Its participation will help Central Asian countries establish land-sea intermodal transport routes to European markets, reducing their dependence on the traditional northern route. Furthermore, the linguistic and cultural ties between Azerbaijan and Central Asian countries provide a foundation for deepening people-to-people and cultural cooperation. In his address, UN Secretary-General António Guterres affirmed the positive role of this initiative in "promoting regional stability and sustainable development."

II. Achievements in Regional Cooperation and Institutionalization Initiatives

At the meeting, Mirziyoyev reviewed the achievements of Central Asian integration in recent years: "Through candid dialogue and active joint efforts, the region has found effective solutions to a series of pressing issues. Territorial issues have been completely resolved, border crossings have been gradually reopened, mutually beneficial cooperation has been established in the water and energy sector, transportation has been restored, and favorable conditions have been created for active trade, investment, and people-to-people exchanges." Data shows that in 2024, trade among Central Asian countries reached US$10.7 billion, and total regional investment increased by 17%.

To further strengthen cooperation mechanisms, Mirziyoyev proposed upgrading the Heads of State Consultations to a "Central Asian Community," and suggested formulating a "Consultations Procedure," establishing a rotating secretariat, and elevating coordinators from each country to the level of Special Representatives of the President. He also advocated for the establishment of a "Council of Elders" to consolidate regional identity through intergenerational dialogue. These initiatives aim to shift the current dialogue-based cooperation model to an institutionalized and sustainable governance framework.

III. Economic Integration and Infrastructure Connectivity

Economic cooperation was the core theme of this meeting. Mirziyoyev called for "increasing mutual trade volume and total foreign trade by 1.5 to 2 times," and advocated for the elimination of administrative barriers, simplification of tax and customs procedures, and joint utilization of free economic zones. He proposed the formulation of a "Comprehensive Regional Economic and Trade Interaction Framework (to 2035)," the adoption of a "Declaration on Joint Investment Space" and a "Joint Measures Plan for the Development of E-commerce," and the construction of a unified digital payment system.

In the infrastructure sector, the meeting explicitly listed the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan railway, the trans-Afghanistan transport corridor, and the trans-Caspian route as priority projects. Mirziyoyev suggested establishing a "Deputy Prime Minister-level Infrastructure Development Council" to coordinate strategic projects in energy, transportation, and communications, including power plant modernization, fiber optic network construction, and border crossing expansion. These measures echo Central Asia's pursuit of a logistics hub status against the backdrop of global supply chain restructuring.

IV. Synergistic Promotion of Security, Ecological, and Cultural Cooperation

On security issues, the meeting affirmed the formulation of the "Regional Security and Stability Concept" and the "Risk and Threat Catalogue," emphasizing the need for joint efforts to address terrorism, extremism, and transnational crime. Regarding the situation in Afghanistan, all parties agreed that it should be incorporated into regional energy and transportation projects to promote security and stability through economic cooperation. Mirziyoyev proposed institutionalizing the Fergana Peace Forum to provide a multilateral platform for conflict prevention.

Faced with the challenges of water scarcity and climate change, the meeting proposed designating 2026-2036 as a "Ten-Year Action Plan for the Rational Use of Water Resources in Central Asia," accelerating the adoption of the "Central Asian Green Development Concept," and promoting Afghanistan's participation in the Amu Darya River Basin water resources dialogue. Uzbekistan also announced the establishment of a regional water resources management capacity-building center in Tashkent and will host the Global Water Conservation Forum in 2026.

In the humanities field, the Tashkent Islamic Civilization Center is expected to become a platform for scientific and spiritual enlightenment for young people. Mirziyoyev proposed adopting a UN resolution to recognize the contributions of Central Asian scholars to global enlightenment and establishing a transnational scientific research fund to support cooperation in cutting-edge technologies such as artificial intelligence.

V. The Evolution of Central Asia's Role in a Global Perspective

This meeting reflected the increasing autonomy and coordination of Central Asian countries in international affairs. In recent years, the expansion of the "Central Asia+" model (such as "Central Asia + the United States" and "Central Asia + the European Union"), and the recent accession of Azerbaijan, indicate that the region is shifting from a "geopolitical player" to a "multilateral cooperation subject." Trends such as the rise of the Global South and the acceleration of Eurasian economic integration provide Central Asia with a historic window to deepen regional integration and expand external partnerships.

Mirziyoyev pointed out: "Today's Central Asia is a vast space full of vibrant development and fruitful cooperation, opening up new opportunities for us to achieve sustainable growth and prosperity." The meeting decided that the 2026 consultation meeting will be hosted by Turkmenistan in a new format of "Central Asia and Azerbaijan," further highlighting the evolution of the regional cooperation framework.

Conclusion: Challenges and Prospects Towards a "New Central Asia"

The expansion and upgrading of the Central Asian heads of state consultation mechanism marks a shift in regional cooperation from abstract dialogue to pragmatic institutional building. Azerbaijan's accession has broadened Central Asia's economic and geopolitical reach, while Uzbekistan's proposed vision of a community, roadmap for economic integration, and collaborative governance plan for security and ecology have set a framework for the region's long-term development. However, challenges such as differences in development levels among member states, competition from external forces, and water resource disputes still require ongoing dialogue to resolve.

As Mirziyoyev stated, "Our strength lies in unity, and our path to success lies in friendship and cooperation. Only through close unity, relying on mutual respect, shared goals, and strategic vision, can we achieve our lofty objectives." Against the backdrop of global order transformation, Central Asia, by strengthening regional autonomous cooperation, is gradually shaping a more resilient, connected, and influential "New Central Asia."