ASTANA – The leaders of Central Asia and Azerbaijan gathered in Cholpon-Ata on July 31 for an informal summit aimed at translating years of improving political ties into practical regional integration, as Azerbaijan expands the grouping’s reach across the Caspian and Kazakhstan pushes for an action plan for a landmark cooperation treaty.
The consultative format brings together Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan to discuss trade, energy, transport corridors, tourism, humanitarian cooperation and regional security. Since its launch in 2018, the five Central Asian states have met annually in an informal format without outside powers, demonstrating their growing readiness and political willingness to address shared challenges on their own terms.
“Over the past eight years, the format has clearly evolved. In 2018, the main priority was to rebuild trust among the countries of the region and restore regular high-level dialogue. That was particularly important after a prolonged period in which many regional issues were addressed primarily through bilateral channels,” said Bauyrzhan Auken, lead expert of the Department of Asian Studies at the Kazakhstan Institute for Strategic Studies, in a comment to The Astana Times.
The meeting in Tashkent in 2025 marked a turning point, as it formally admitted Azerbaijan as a full participant and opened the way for a more ambitious phase of regional cooperation. At the meeting, President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev called for a concrete action plan to implement a regional friendship treaty, formally known as the Treaty of Friendship, Good Neighborliness and Cooperation for the Development of Central Asia in the 21st century.
The document was signed in 2022 by the presidents of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan following the fourth consultative meeting. Tajikistan joined the treaty in August 2025, followed by Turkmenistan in June 2026. Describing the document as historic, Tokayev stressed it “marks a new stage in strategic partnership” and “establishes a political framework for regional cooperation.” “I believe the next step should be the practical implementation of the document’s provisions.
In this regard, I propose developing and subsequently adopting an action plan with clear benchmarks for our long-term cooperation, aimed at further strengthening friendship and good-neighborly relations, as well as expanding trade, economic, cultural and humanitarian cooperation,” Tokayev said.
“It can be said with confidence that, thanks to growing mutual trust and the consistent development of regional cooperation, Central Asia is now experiencing the most successful period in its modern history,” he added. The consultative format may be entering a more demanding phase, focused less on declarations and more on delivery.
“Today, the consultative meetings are no longer limited to an exchange of views among leaders. A working system has gradually developed around them, with summit rules, road maps, a Council of National Coordinators and closer cooperation among relevant ministries,” Auken said.
“The main question now is how to give the regional treaty practical substance,” he added.