Sustainable efforts to build a common regional identity

The desire to forge a shared regional identity—a crucial need for developing shared responsibility and solidarity in boosting Central Asia's well-being and prosperity—was another example of the commonality of viewpoints.

The region's leaders recommended a variety of measures aimed at preserving Central Asia as a distinct cultural and civilizational zone, as well as expanding cultural and humanitarian linkages to improve and deepen regional collaboration. In this regard, the Uzbek side initiated the adoption of an action plan to deepen cultural and humanitarian interaction between Central Asian countries, as well as the establishment of an international media platform "History and Culture of Central Asia: One Past and Common Future," which could be promoted on the basis of the Association of Central Asian States Mass Media, the establishment of which was proposed by Tajikistan's President Emomali Rahmon.

Furthermore, in order to foster the concept of a shared regional identity among young people, the President of Uzbekistan proposed establishing regional scientific and educational grants and scholarships in honor of Al-Khwarizmi, Farabi, Jami, Magtymguly, and Chingiz Aitmatov.

In general, the leaders of Central Asian governments are determined to make youth the primary beneficiary and driving force behind the development of a long-term plan of regional integration, the framework and supporting structure of a shared Central Asian nest.

The adoption at the summit the Agreement among Central Asia countries on common directions of youth policy was an obvious confirmation of this.

Undoubtedly, all of the above and many other specific initiatives form a solid basis for moving forward, building effective mechanisms of interaction, and forming a solid Central Asian architecture of cooperation.

It is becoming clear that our nations have already recognized the basic areas of collaborative development. At the same time, we have not only developed a common agenda for strengthening and extending collaboration, but we have also begun to implement practical measures and initiatives.

In general, the summit confirmed Central Asian leaders' strong and decisive attitude toward shouldering responsibility for our region's security and sustainable development, comprehensively deepening and expanding regional cooperation in the interests of our peoples, and making every effort to transform Central Asia into a space of peace and cooperation, an important link in interregional connectivity and global value chains. This contributes to the stability and security of the shared Eurasian space.

Akramjon Nematov,

first deputy director of the Institute for Strategic and Regional Studies under the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan

Strong commitment to the formation of collective security mechanisms

The leaders of Central Asian countries putting forward specific security proposals demonstrated the region's high degree of mutual confidence, the establishment of collective security mechanisms, and the readiness to share responsibility for Central Asia's stability. Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan, for example, suggested launching a Dialogue on Security and Cooperation, which Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan welcomed.

The President of Uzbekistan proposed a robust foundation for cooperation in border protection and protecting the territorial integrity of Central Asian republics, as well as cooperative counteraction to mutual security problems and threats. Initiatives were put up, in particular, to construct an Interstate border security and strengthening Program, as well as to establish a regional system of forecasting, preventive, early warning, and cooperative reaction to emergencies.

Taking into account all Central Asian countries' interest in normalizing the situation in Afghanistan and preventing challenges and threats emanating from its territory, it was proposed to establish a Contact Group at the level of special representatives on Afghanistan to establish a coordinated dialogue with the Afghan side on border security, water use, and trade development.

Akramjon Nematov,

first deputy director of the Institute for Strategic and Regional Studies under the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan

Decisive steps towards overcoming climate challenges

The effects of climate change on the environment, water consumption, and food security were also cited as challenges and risks that are relevant to the Central Asian republics.

There was unanimity among summit participants about the necessity for coordinated cooperation in this area as they all expressed worry over the effects of climate change and presented ideas that were comparable to one another.

Kyrgyzstan in particular has initiated a significant endeavor to set up a Regional Center for the introduction of resource- and energy-saving technology. It is consistent with the Turkmen side's suggestion to create a Regional Center on climate change technologies.

In reply, the President of Uzbekistan suggested the establishment of a multilateral forum called "Central Asian Dialogue" at the level of ecology ministers, as well as drafting a Regional Strategy on Climate Change Adaptation.

Furthermore, the President of Uzbekistan announced the first Samarkand international forum dedicated to the climate topic in 2023, as well as initiated the joint submission of a UN General Assembly resolution titled “Central Asia in front of global climate challenges: consolidation for a common future.”

Without a doubt, the Samarkand Forum has the potential to become a multilateral venue for full debate of Central Asian initiatives and the establishment of broad international support for regional efforts to confront climate change and adapt to its repercussions.

We cannot but appreciate Central Asian governments' environmental action, and all proposals put forward by Central Asian countries should be viewed as components of regional efforts to address climate concerns. This dynamic is critical in the context of the impending Regional Climate Summit in Kazakhstan in 2026 under the auspices of the United Nations, which President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev proposed during the Astana Forum this summer.

Akramjon Nematov,

first deputy director of the Institute for Strategic and Regional Studies under the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan

Compounding of advantages and formation of a new mode of economic development

Economic growth and raising the standard of living for residents of the region have been recognized as the two main imperatives for cooperation among the Central Asian republics.

According to the president of Uzbekistan, "trade and economic cooperation is the main driver of regional partnership and integration," the president of Tajikistan has called for a "strategic breakthrough in the economic direction," involving the full potential of the region's states, and the president of Kazakhstan has proposed transforming Central Asia into a "space of new economic opportunities."

The leader of Turkmenistan Serdar Berdimuhamedov and Preisdent of Kyrgyzstan Sadyr Zhaparov also stressed the importance of expanding trade and economic links, boosting bilateral trade turnover, and harnessing huge untapped potential.

Along with the promoting of intraregional trade, the presidents of Central Asian countries gave special attention to the expansion of regional industrial cooperation.

The President of Uzbekistan, in particular, proposed developing and adopting a Strategy for the Development of Industrial Cooperation, while the President of Kazakhstan initiated an Action Plan for the Development of Industrial Cooperation, and President Emomali Rahmon put forward developing separate programs of cooperation in the fields of agriculture, industry, and active introduction of new technologies.

The energy sector was another area where similar approaches were proposed. Thus, the President of Uzbekistan emphasized the need of guaranteeing energy security, which might pose a barrier to Central Asian nations' long-term sustainable growth.

In this respect, he underlined the need of collaboration in the development of energy infrastructure, energy source diversification, attracting investments and technology in the field of alternative energy, and the generation of "green" hydrogen.

Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan have stated their willingness to actively collaborate with Central Asian nations in the creation of "green energy" based on their hydropower resources.

In exchange, the leader of Turkmenistan indicated his country's determination to assist in meeting regional demand for energy resources, as well as to deliver natural gas and electricity to Central Asian countries and through their territory to overseas markets on mutually advantageous conditions.

President Serdar Berdimuhammedov suggested the creation of a new type of five-sided contact - the Energy Dialogue of Central Asian Countries - to make cooperation in this area more systematic and effective.

Traditionally, the leaders of Central Asian republics have focused their attention on expanding our countries transport and logistics capabilities and diversifying transportation corridors. At the same time, participants in the meeting approved the Five-Party Agreement on Strengthening Interconnectivity of Land Transport in Central Asia.

However, the heads of state did not limit themselves and proposed put forward a number of concrete initiatives. Thus, the President of Uzbekistan proposed developing an Agreement on Transport and Transit in Central Asia, forming specific mechanisms to promote efficient transport corridors to access the markets of China, South Asia, and the Middle East, the European Union with the application of business-friendly tariffs.

He also suggested preparing a Program of measures to liberalize the market of transport services, optimizing permitting procedures, and considering the creation of new integrated digital Platform of international transport.

In line with Uzbekistan's idea, Turkmen President Serdar Berdimuhamedov proposed considering the possibilities of establishing a Central Asian transport and logistics platform.

Without a doubt, all of these initiatives are crucially important for the states long-term development and attest to a shared desire to create a new way of economic development in the region based on the competitive advantages and complementarity of Central Asian economies, to form a capacious market in the region and integrate it into global value chains, and to transform Central Asia into an important link of interregional connectivity.

In this context, it seems to be in demand the President of Uzbekistan's idea to form a Central Asian Economic Council, which might become an efficient instrument for assuring collaboration and coordinating efforts to promote economic initiatives that fulfill common interests.

Akramjon Nematov,

first deputy director of the Institute for Strategic and Regional Studies under the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan