Azerbaijan, Central Asian countries agree to develop transport, energy, security cooperation
BAKU. Oct 9 (Interfax) - Azerbaijan and Central Asian countries intend to cooperate more on regional and international security and foster trade and economic ties, according to a statement issued by the countries' heads of state after their 8th consultative meeting in Turkmenistan on October 8.
"The parties reaffirmed their commitment to cooperating more broadly on regional and international security, including in combatting terrorism, extremism and radicalism, illegal immigration, transnational organized crime, illegal trafficking of drugs and firearms, human trafficking, and on transboundary crisis response and prevention," the statement, published by Azerbaijani media, said.
Having stressed the great potential for a broader trade and economic cooperation, the heads of state expressed their readiness to foster trade, investment, expand direct business contacts, support joint ventures, hold regular business forums and exhibitions, and share experience in supporting small and medium-sized enterprises and developing regional e-commerce.
The heads of state also noted the paramount importance of developing an integrated regional transport infrastructure and, having stressed the significance of the international East-West and North-South Transport Corridors as key factors of sustainable economic growth and broader inter-regional ties, reaffirmed the importance of a further development of transit and transport corridors crossing their states.
The parties also noted the level they have achieved on energy cooperation and expressed an interest in strengthening it, including by studying the prospects of new projects aimed at developing energy corridors linking Central Asia and Azerbaijan. In this context, they noted the importance of using the possibilities of a project to generate and transmit green energy between Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan. The aim of the project is to create a corridor for Central Asia's green electricity exports to Europe via Azerbaijan.
The heads of state also noted the need to strengthen cooperation in a number of areas, including: inter-parliamentary interaction, environmental protection, climate change, adopting eco-friendly technologies and preserving ecosystems, biodiversity, sharing best practices in advanced technologies, innovation, introducing digital systems and digital transformation, artificial intelligence and scientific technical progress, creating favorable conditions for industrial products to access markets in the member states, expanding the pharmaceutical cooperation, training medical specialists, introducing digital solutions and telemedicine services, helping strengthen cooperation in developing tourist zones, promoting tourist products and raising awareness about the tourist potentials of Central Asia and Azerbaijan.
