The second consultative meeting of the Central Asian leaders that took place in Tashkent on November 29 was attended Tajik President Emomali Rahmon, Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, Kyrgyz President Sooronbay Jeenbekov, Turkmen President Gurbaguly Berdimuhamedow and former President, turned Elbasy (Leader of the Nation) of Kazakhstan, Nursultan Nazarbayev.
The meeting participants discussed closer cooperation in the fields of trade, industry, transportation, science, and culture. They, in particular, discussed the elimination of trade barriers, closer investment cooperation, and major projects aimed at modernizing energy infrastructure and expanding transit capabilities of the region. The Central Asian leaders also exchanged views on regional security.
The summit resulted in adoption of a Joint Statement and the Procedures for holding of consultative meetings.
Proceeding from the common interests of the Central Asia nations in strengthening stability, security and sustainable development in the region, ensuring well-being of its multimillion population, the meeting participants notes that in the conditions of dynamic development of international processes, emergence of new threats, and at the same time, of new favorable opportunities for sustainable development of the states of Central Asia, the demand for a trustworthy dialogue, political consultations and practical interactions among them increases manifold. They point to the necessary of fully exploiting these opportunities in the interests of the countries.
Tashkent consultative summit promotes development of interstate interaction in Central Asia guided by the goals of creating the most favorable conditions for dynamic development of national economies, raising living standards of our countries’ populations, expanding and deepening multifaceted ties in the region, the Joint Statement says.
Stirring up regional cooperation in the spheres of politics, security, preserving stability and achieving sustainable development in the region correspond to the core interests of the peoples of Central Asian countries, promote bigger consolidation of brotherly ties among them, serve for full-scale realization of the enormous economic and civilization potential of Central Asia.
The political dialogue and positive processes of interstate rapprochement in Central Asia are of an open and constructive nature and not aimed against the interests of third parties, according to the Statement.
The prospects of stable development in Central Asia are linked to achieving peace in neighboring Afghanistan, and the countries of the region welcome and support stirring up of international efforts on settling the situation in Afghanistan.
The states of Central Asia reportedly intend to continue comprehensive efforts to involve Afghanistan into regional trade-economic and infrastructure projects which must assist promotion of peace process.
Noting the need to develop effective economic cooperation in Central Asia based on the principles of mutual support and mutual benefit, the parties stand up for strengthening coordination and deepening regional cooperation in the issues of joint implementation of large economic projects, and particularly, which are aimed at expanding the transport and transit capabilities and developing the energy potential of the region, ensuring stable access to seaports and world markets, developing infrastructure, forming modern international logistics, trade and tourism centers, building new enterprises, introducing innovative technologies and developing «green economy».
The states of Central Asia are ready to undertake joint measures in terms of establishing modern production infrastructure in the region, which meets the priority goals and tasks of policies of the Central Asian countries in the area of industrial development.
The countries of the region are interested in advancing practical implementation of initiatives and projects on developing transit systems in the region, which will have a positive impact on dynamics and volumes of international trade, growth of transit flow of cargo, cost of transportation of raw, equipment and finished products.
The states of Central Asia are reportedly interested in developing and expanding regional cooperation in the sphere of protection of environment, combating climate change and mitigation its consequences for the population of the region. With these goals they intend to continue to develop and strengthen interaction in the basin of Aral Sea.
Noting importance of reasonable and fair use of water and energy resources in Central Asia, our countries will continue work on improving mechanisms of long-term and mutually beneficial cooperation in this sphere with taking into account the interests of all parties.
The parties agreed on the need to pay special permanent attention to the problems of youth and take joint measures and adopt programs aimed at supporting young people in realizing their potential, as well as developing dialogue and cooperation among youth organizations of the states of the region in the spheres of culture, science, technologies, entrepreneurship, etc.
The states of the region will continue to deepen mutual cooperation in these spheres with a goal to preserve, strengthen and advance region-wide cultural and scientific achievements of Central Asia, values and traditions which unite the peoples of the Central Asian countries. They are interested to comprehensively promote distribution of knowledge about rich history, culture, civilization, tourist attractiveness of Central Asia in their countries and throughout the world, according to the Joint Statement.
In this regard, the Central Asian nations have adopted Regulations of work on organizing Consultative meetings of the heads of states of Central Asia, which includes also holding regular meetings of ministers of foreign affairs and expert level sessions.
