Ministers of Uzbekistan, Azerbaijan, and Turkey meet in Ankara

On January 29, the second meeting of the Ministers of Foreign Affairs, Economy and Trade, and Transport of Azerbaijan, Turkey, and Uzbekistan took place in Ankara, culminating in the signing of a final declaration. The Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry reported this development.

The declaration outlines a comprehensive Action Plan aimed at enhancing cooperation in transport and regional communications. Key points of the document include:

- A reaffirmation of the commitment to expanding collaboration on regional and international issues;
- An agreement to support joint efforts in countering threats to sovereignty and territorial integrity;
- A pledge to fully utilize existing potential in key sectors such as economy, trade, investment, logistics, infrastructure, digitalization, environment, and climate change;
- A call to enhance the efficiency and competitiveness of the Central Corridor;
- Expressions of support for Azerbaijan’s ongoing rehabilitation and demining efforts in Karabakh and East Zangezur;
- The initiation of mutual efforts within the framework of the Organization of Turkic States (OTS) to foster positive developments in economic, trade, transport, and climate-related matters;
- Acknowledgment of Azerbaijan’s chairmanship of COP29 and the Council for Confidence Building Measures in Asia (CICA);
- An emphasis on the importance of a unified approach within the OTS to the security and development of Afghanistan, recognizing its role in maintaining Central Asian stability;
- A welcomed decision to implement a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, with a call for its strict adherence and support for a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Uzbekistan’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Bakhtiyor Saidov, participated in the meeting and highlighted, during a joint press conference with his counterparts, that the Trans-Afghan Railway would become an integral part of the global supply chain.

He also noted that discussions centered on utilizing Uzbekistan as a transport and logistics hub to facilitate Turkish and Azerbaijani companies’ entry into new markets. Additionally, views were exchanged on boosting cargo transportation via the international multimodal freight corridor encompassing Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Turkey, and European nations.

“One of the primary topics of the meeting was the prospects for constructing the Trans-Afghan Railway. In the long term, this large-scale project will not only connect Central and South Asia but also serve as a vital component of the global supply chain,” Saidov stated.