October 8, 2026, Avaza, Turkmenistan — President of the Republic of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev participated in the 8th Consultative Meeting of the Heads of State of Central Asia and Azerbaijan. The anniversary summit, held in the year marking the 35th anniversary of the independence of the Central Asian countries and Azerbaijan, served as a platform for Kazakhstan to put forward several strategic initiatives in key areas of interstate cooperation.

In his address, the Head of State outlined the following priorities for regional cooperation:

- Trade and economic partnership: Kazakhstan proposed adopting an Action Plan to increase intra-regional trade to $20 billion and accelerating the integration of cross-border trade and logistics hubs to develop regional value chains.

- Transport connectivity: The President emphasized the importance of strengthening regional connectivity, developing the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route (Middle Corridor) and the North–South transport corridor, as well as implementing the Aral–Caspian highway project, which will connect China with the Caspian Sea and European markets.

- Water resource management: Kazakhstan proposed adopting a Framework Convention of Central Asia on Water Use and jointly promoting Kazakhstan’s initiative to establish an International Water Organization under the auspices of the United Nations.

- Digitalization and artificial intelligence: The President proposed launching a Central Asian Partnership Programme on Artificial Intelligence and developing a Declaration on the Responsible Use of Artificial Intelligence by the Central Asian states and Azerbaijan.

- Strengthening cultural and humanitarian ties: Kazakhstan proposed establishing a unified regional television channel based on Kazakhstan’s Silk Way TV channel, as well as holding a Youth Volunteer Forum in 2027.

Following the 8th Consultative Meeting of the Heads of State of Central Asia and Azerbaijan, a Joint Statement was adopted.

Source : https://www.gov.kz/memleket/entities/mfa-bratislava/press/news/details/1307827?lang=ru