Baku, Ashgabat eye closer cooperation across shared strategic interests

Azerbaijani Prime Minister Ali Asadov met with President of Turkmenistan Serdar Berdimuhamedov on August 5 to discuss the continued development of bilateral cooperation.

Prime Minister Asadov conveyed President Ilham Aliyev’s greetings to the Turkmen head of state, Caliber.Az reports per local media.

President Berdimuhamedov, in turn, extended his best wishes to President Aliyev.

Both sides expressed satisfaction with the steady growth of friendly and fraternal relations between their countries.

The meeting also explored prospects for deepening cooperation in areas of mutual interest.

Turkmenistan and Azerbaijan maintain strong and multifaceted bilateral relations rooted in a shared history and close cultural ties.

Since establishing diplomatic relations in June 1992, both countries have actively pursued cooperation across political, economic, and cultural domains. High-level political dialogue is a key feature of this partnership, with regular visits by heads of state and government reinforcing their commitment to close collaboration.

Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev has made several visits to Turkmenistan, while the current President Serdar Berdimuhamedov and his predecessor, Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov, have both made official visits to Baku. Foreign ministers from both sides also engage frequently to advance their shared agenda.

Energy cooperation forms a vital pillar of their relationship, exemplified by the joint development of the Dostlug oil and gas field in the Caspian Sea, formalised in 2021.

Alongside energy, both nations work closely on transport and trade projects, including the International Transport Corridor “Lazurit,” which connects Afghanistan, Turkmenistan, Azerbaijan, Georgia, and Türkiye. This corridor enhances regional connectivity, linking Central and South Asia with the Caspian and Black Sea regions.

Cultural and humanitarian ties further strengthen the partnership, with both countries promoting exchanges in education and the arts. Their cooperation extends into regional organisations such as the Economic Cooperation Organisation (ECO), where they collaborate on shared interests.

By Aghakazim Guliyev