The Fourth Consultative Meeting of the Heads of State of Central Asia at the Kyrgyz resort town of Cholpon-Ata ended yesterday with Central Asian leaders’ pledge to boost further cooperation.
Kyrgyz media reports, citing Kyrgyz foreign minister, say Central Asian leaders discussed a wide range of issues related to the life of their countries.
"Leaders are concerned about security in the region. They talked about maintaining the common security of Central Asia, about the joint efforts to stabilize the situation in Afghanistan, about the adoption of joint measures for cyber security and information security," Kyrgyz Foreign Minister Jeenbek Kulubayev was cited as saying.
According to him, the meeting participants, in particular, discussed issues related to food security, energy, attraction of investments, transit opportunities.
Meanwhile, Radio Liberty says leaders from five Central Asian nations have ended the summit with a pledge to increase cooperation to strengthen the region as Russia — the main strategic and trade partner of the region — is being weakened by its so-called “special military operation” in Ukraine.
The meeting ended with the signing of the Agreement on Friendship, Neighborliness, and Cooperation for Development of Central Asia in the 21st Century by the leaders of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan. Tajik and Turkmen leaders did not sign the document, citing domestic proceedings.
AKIpress says the following documents were signed:
– The Resolution of the member states of the International Fund for Saving the Aral Sea on extension of the powers of the Fund's President;
– The Joint statement of the consultative meeting of the Central Asian leaders;
– The concept of cooperation of the Central Asian countries in the framework of multilateral formats;
– The regional program "Green Agenda for Central Asia";
– The roadmap for development of regional cooperation for 2022-2024.
It is to be noted that the summit was the first gathering of Central Asia’s leaders since Russia launched its invasion of Ukraine on February 24.
The meeting came just weeks after social unrest took place in some countries of the region.
The next Fifth Consultative Meeting of the Heads of State of Central Asia will take place in Tajikistan.
