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President Shavkat Mirziyoyev received the foreign ministers of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan in Samarkand on Monday, holding four separate meetings on the sidelines of a C5+1 ministerial gathering that brings together the five Central Asian states and the United States.
The back-to-back sessions on 19 October focused on bilateral trade performance, the implementation of commitments made at previous summits, and priorities for regional cooperation in transport, energy and humanitarian affairs.
Kazakhstan: allied relations and a 2027 roadmap
In talks with Kazakhstan’s Foreign Minister Mukhtar Tileuberdi, Mirziyoyev discussed what both sides described as a strategic partnership and allied relationship. The two delegations pointed to expanding trade and deepening contacts between government bodies, regional administrations and business communities. They reviewed ongoing joint projects spanning industry, transport, energy, agriculture, construction and environmental protection, and agreed on the need to draw up a schedule of bilateral activities for 2027 to give effect to agreements already reached at the highest level.
Kyrgyzstan: following up on the July state visit
With Kyrgyz Foreign Minister Jeenbek Kulubaev, the president concentrated on delivering on commitments made during his state visit to Kyrgyzstan in July 2026. Both sides acknowledged growth in bilateral trade and stronger ties between enterprises and regions. The talks also touched on progress in major regional energy and transport projects, and on plans for cultural, humanitarian and interregional exchanges in the coming year.
Tajikistan: trade, freight and water management
Mirziyoyev’s meeting with Tajik Foreign Minister Sirojiddin Muhriddin addressed what the two sides characterised as relations of friendship, good-neighbourliness and alliance. They noted increases in both trade volumes and freight transport, and reviewed joint work in energy, industry, agriculture and water management — a sector of particular sensitivity across Central Asia. Both parties underlined the importance of broadening educational, tourism, cultural and humanitarian exchanges.
The source text does not detail the substance of a separate meeting with Turkmenistan’s foreign minister beyond its having taken place as part of the same series of consultations.
The C5+1 format, which convenes the foreign ministers of Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan alongside their American counterpart, provided the diplomatic backdrop for all four encounters. Samarkand has served as a recurring venue for high-level Central Asian diplomacy in recent years.