Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev accepted an invitation to the Consultative Meeting of the Heads of State of Central Asia, which will be held in 2026 in the new "Central Asia and Azerbaijan" format under the chairmanship of Turkmenistan. This was stated in a letter from the Azerbaijani leader addressed to the National Leader of the Turkmen People and Chairman of the Halk Maslahaty of Turkmenistan, Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov, the State News Agency of Turkmenistan reports.

"I am grateful for your invitation to the Consultative Meeting of Heads of State, which will be held next year in the new format of 'Central Asia and Azerbaijan.' I accept it with great pleasure," the message reads.

Aliyev emphasized that Azerbaijan's accession to the Consultative Meeting format, as a state with significant political authority and economic power, is a significant historical event that will give impetus to enhancing the role of the Central Asian region on the global stage.

The President of Azerbaijan noted that the republic, together with the countries of Central Asia, forms a strategically significant, unified historical, cultural, and geopolitical space. "We consistently attach great importance to strengthening regional cooperation, particularly the rapidly developing partnerships with the Central Asian states, which share common historical, religious, and cultural roots," Aliyev said.

The head of the Azerbaijani state expressed confidence that the upcoming summit will contribute to the realization of the potential of partnership between the Central Asian states, the sustainable development of the region as a whole, and will make a significant contribution to opening up horizons for new cooperation.

Aliyev congratulated Turkmenistan on its chairmanship of the Consultative Meeting of the Heads of State of Central Asia in 2026 and praised Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov's role in establishing this cooperation format.