BAKU, Azerbaijan, October 29. Central Asia is emerging as one of the world's key geopolitical and economic centers, creating opportunities to expand regional cooperation and strengthen stability, Chairperson of the Mejlis (Parliament) of Turkmenistan Dunyagozel Gulmanova said.
This was reflected in a press release published by the Mejlis of Turkmenistan following Gulmanova’s speech at the 4th Interparliamentary Forum of Central Asian States, held today in Dushanbe.
“The Central Asian region has currently evolved into one of the world’s most significant geopolitical and economic hubs, fostering multilateral cooperation among nations and serving as a key guarantor of stability,” the press release quoted Gulmanova as saying.
She also emphasized that Turkmenistan's goals and objectives are focused on ensuring peace, establishing dialogue between countries, and strengthening mutual trust.
These priorities are reflected in the region's growing engagement with international partners, as Central Asian countries expand cooperation through a series of high-level regional formats. In November 2025, the leaders of the five Central Asian countries met with U.S. President Donald Trump in Washington for the C5+1 summit marking the platform's 10th anniversary. In April 2025, the European Union and Central Asian countries established a strategic partnership at their first summit in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, while Japan held its first summit with the region's five states at the leaders' level in December 2025. The first Korea-Central Asia summit followed in Seoul in September 2026, focusing on industrial cooperation, critical minerals and supply chains.
The region's expanding international engagement has coincided with growing trade ties. China's trade in goods with Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan reached $106.3 billion in 2025, up 12% year on year and exceeding the $100-billion mark for the first time, according to China's Ministry of Commerce. China also became the region's largest trading partner for the first time.
Another important factor is logistics. The Middle Corridor, an international multimodal transport route linking China and Central Asia with the South Caucasus and Europe across the Caspian Sea, has gained importance as countries seek to diversify trade routes and strengthen supply-chain resilience. According to data cited by the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE), cargo volumes along the Trans-Caspian route rose by 62% in 2024 to 4.5 million tons. In the period from January through August 2026, freight volumes exceeded 3 million tons, up 11% year on year, according to Azerbaijan Railways (ADY).
The growth has prompted investment in railways, ports and logistics facilities. In February 2026, the World Bank approved an $846 million guarantee to help mobilize $1.4 billion in commercial financing for a railway connectivity project in Kazakhstan. Meanwhile, upgrades at the Caspian ports of Aktau and Kuryk are aimed at improving cargo handling and increasing the route's capacity. The World Bank estimates that at least $25 billion in physical infrastructure investment will be needed along the corridor through 2040, in addition to an estimated $30 billion for logistics hubs, connecting links and other supporting infrastructure.
Meanwhile, the European Union has stepped up its engagement with Central Asia as it seeks to strengthen transport links and diversify its trade routes. At the first EU-Central Asia summit in Samarkand in April 2025, the sides elevated their relations to a strategic partnership, with Brussels announcing a €12 billion Global Gateway investment package covering connectivity and other sectors. The EU has since promoted the Trans-Caspian route through investment forums and infrastructure planning. In September 2026, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced an ambition to mobilize up to €12 billion in public and private investment for the Middle Corridor.
Azerbaijan has also strengthened its role in regional cooperation and transport connectivity. In November 2025, the five Central Asian states agreed to grant Azerbaijan full participation in their Consultative Meeting format, a decision followed by an informal meeting of the six countries' leaders in Cholpon-Ata, Kyrgyzstan, on July 31, 2026. The expanded format was subsequently reflected in the eighth Consultative Meeting, held in Turkmenistan’s Turkmenbashi on October 8, where Azerbaijan participated as a full member. The development has reinforced political coordination between Central Asia and the South Caucasus, including on trade, energy and transport links.
This growing regional cooperation also has an important logistical dimension, with Azerbaijan serving as a key link between Central Asia and markets in the South Caucasus, Türkiye and Europe. Through the Middle Corridor, cargo transported across the Caspian Sea can reach Azerbaijan's ports and railway network before continuing westward. The route's growing importance has been accompanied by efforts to expand transport infrastructure and improve connectivity across the Caspian, strengthening economic ties between Central Asia and the South Caucasus.
Energy resources are another major factor shaping Central Asia's role in global trade. Kazakhstan is a major oil exporter, while Turkmenistan is a leading natural gas supplier to China, and Uzbekistan also exports uranium. Kazakhstan's oil and uranium exports are important to European markets, while China remains a key destination for the region's hydrocarbons. The European Union has also stepped up energy cooperation with Central Asian countries, reflecting its interest in diversifying supplies and developing renewable energy.
Against this backdrop, Gulmanova's description of Central Asia as an increasingly important geopolitical and economic center reflects the region's growing international engagement, expanding trade ties and rising importance as a transport link between Asia and Europe. For Turkmenistan, these developments reinforce the importance of regional stability, peaceful dialogue and mutual trust as foundations for strengthening cooperation among Central Asian states and their international partners.
