Trilateral Central Asia Summit Outlines New Blueprint for Regional Cooperation: Caspian-Central Asia Linkage Architecture Gradually Takes Shape

The Caspian breeze in Awaza is witnessing profound geo-economic changes in the heart of the Eurasian continent.

On August 22, 2025, in Turkmenbashi city, Turkmenistan's "Awaza" National Tourist Zone, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, Turkmenistan's People's Leader Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow, and Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev gathered together and signed multiple cooperation documents and a joint statement.

This meeting demonstrated the three parties' "strong political will to develop strategic partnerships for the benefit of the peoples of the three countries." The summit not only ended historical differences in some areas but also marked a key turning point for the Caspian-Central Asia region from "fragmented development" to "collaborative success."

01 Energy Cooperation Breakthrough: From Resource Disputes to Joint Development

Energy cooperation was one of the core topics of this summit, and the most symbolic breakthrough was the consensus reached between Azerbaijan and Turkmenistan on the previously disputed "Kyapaz/Serdar" oil and gas field.

The field was officially renamed "Dostlug" (meaning "Friendship"), reflecting the two countries' determination to set aside differences and jointly develop Caspian oil and gas resources.

Energy trade data already proves the effectiveness of cooperation: from the beginning of 2025 to date, Azerbaijan has imported 187 million cubic meters of natural gas from Turkmenistan, with a transaction value of $28 million.

Energy cooperation between Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan focuses on the future. Azerbaijani President Aliyev stated: "Azerbaijan's State Oil Company (SOCAR) has already launched oil field development projects in Uzbekistan, and we expect important news in the next year or two."

02 Transportation and Logistics Connectivity: Building Eurasia's Golden Transport Corridor

The "Trilateral Memorandum on Transportation and Logistics Cooperation" and "Memorandum on International Air Transport Development" signed by the three leaders aim to make cargo transportation from Central Asia to Europe "smoother and faster."

Uzbek President Mirziyoyev emphasized: "We have detailed plans for connecting the capacity of Turkmenbashi port and Baku port to string together existing transport routes like 'beads on a necklace.'"

The Zangezur Corridor will become the "trump card" of transport connectivity. Once opened, the transportation time for goods from Central Asia to Europe will be significantly shortened. Whether energy resources, uranium ore and other strategic materials, or daily consumer goods, they can all flow efficiently through this "golden channel."

Logistics infrastructure has already shown initial results: in the first half of 2025, the cargo throughput of Turkmenbashi port exceeded 4.2 million tons, demonstrating the growing importance of this hub in regional logistics.

03 Expanding Cooperation Areas: Multidimensional Interaction from Economy to Humanities

The scope of cooperation at this summit extended far beyond the traditional economy to include shipbuilding, aviation, energy, and border trade.

In shipbuilding, cooperation will "utilize the production capacities of Baku and Balkan shipyards"; in civil aviation, the focus is on "increasing direct flights and enhancing corridor connectivity."

The three countries also plan to launch the "Shavat—Dashoguz" border trade zone by the end of 2025 to "enhance goods flow and logistics connectivity." These measures will significantly improve the efficiency of economic and trade exchanges within the region.

Humanitarian exchanges also add warmth to cooperation. The three countries signed the "Protocol on Establishing Sister City Relations between Fizuli City of Azerbaijan and Arkadag City of Turkmenistan," providing a concrete vehicle for nongovernmental exchanges.

04 Regional Collaborative Development: Building a Stable and Prosperous Caspian-Central Asia Circle

This summit reflected the three countries' common desire to strengthen self-development capabilities in a complex international context. Berdimuhamedow noted: "Our dialogue is based on equality, with the goal of peace and stability throughout the region."

The three countries agreed to "expand cooperation in rational water resource use and addressing environmental challenges" and to "implement a joint program on tourism and cultural exchanges."

The implementation of various decisions and signed documents will be promoted by the three governments according to a "roadmap." This institutionalized arrangement ensures the continuity and stability of cooperation.

05 Geoeconomic Significance: Reshaping Eurasia's Transportation and Energy Landscape

The geoeconomic significance of the Awaza Summit extends far beyond the three countries and will have a profound impact on the entire Eurasian continent. Trilateral cooperation is reshaping Eurasia's energy and transportation map.

The advancement of the Middle Corridor and the development of diversified cooperation demonstrate the three countries' common will to strengthen independent development capabilities in a complex international context.

Azerbaijan, leveraging this trilateral cooperation, is accelerating its establishment as a "South Caucasus-Central Asia connection hub": Baku port becomes the logistics core, SOCAR leads energy collaboration, and the Zangezur Corridor opens transport arteries.

This new cooperation framework complements the China-Central Asia cooperation mechanism. In 2023 and 2025, China and Central Asian countries held two China-Central Asia summits and established an increasingly mature cooperation mechanism.

Trade volume between China and Central Asian countries reached a record $94.8 billion in 2024, and infrastructure projects such as the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan railway are steadily advancing.

Additionally, on August 11-12, 2025, Turkmenistan's "Awaza" National Tourist Zone also hosted events to celebrate International Caspian Day, including a scientific-practical conference titled "Caspian—Sea of Friendship and Peace."

The conference gathered representatives from Caspian littoral states, international organizations, diplomats, and experts to discuss key environmental and conservation issues in the region.

The Turkmenbashi Summit has concluded, but the chapter of trilateral cooperation has just begun.

From Caspian gas fields to Central Asian oil fields, an energy cooperation belt connecting the three countries is gradually taking shape; from Turkmenbashi port to Baku port, goods and resources will flow efficiently along the newly created "golden corridor."

This infrastructure is not merely structures of steel and concrete but a narrative of development written by regional countries through cooperation rather than confrontation. As the Uzbek President stated, this historic meeting will "help deepen the trilateral mutually beneficial cooperation, establish stable trade, transportation, and energy corridors, and accelerate the process of regional integration."

When the Caspian sea breeze meets the Central Asian deserts, this "regional transformation" driven by the joint efforts of the three countries is redefining the economic and geographical map of the Eurasian continent.