CIS Leaders Outline Cooperation Priorities and New Initiatives
Economy
Heads of state from the Commonwealth of Independent States gathered in Avaza, Turkmenistan, for a summit marking the CIS’s 35th anniversary. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and Shanghai Cooperation Organisation Secretary-General Nurlan Yermekbayev joined the meeting in an expanded format. Discussions focused on trade, industrial cooperation, transport, energy, digitalisation and regional security.
Uzbekistan’s President Shavkat Mirziyoyev proposed removing technical barriers to mutual trade, expanding mutual recognition of conformity certificates and simplifying companies’ access to public procurement. He also called for consultations before restrictions are imposed on food and fertiliser exports, as well as the development of joint production facilities and special economic zones. Other proposals included integrated logistics centres, lower transit costs, harmonised freight rules, a unified CIS transport information system and long-term energy demand forecasting. Mirziyoyev also advocated resource-efficient practices and a joint contact centre to combat cross-border cybercrime and fraud.
Tajikistan’s President Emomali Rahmon described the CIS as an important platform for political, economic and humanitarian cooperation and security. He highlighted industrial partnerships, transport, digitalisation, artificial intelligence, the green economy and renewable energy. Rahmon recalled the initiative to declare 2027–2036 the International Decade for Strengthening Peace for Future Generations. Dushanbe plans to host a high-level conference on the initiative in June 2027 with the United Nations and international partners.
Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said peace with Azerbaijan had become a reality. According to him, there had been no fatalities from shootings for more than two years, Armenian cargo had been transported by rail through Azerbaijan for nearly a year, and the two sides had delimited and demarcated a 12-kilometre section of their border. He also highlighted the importance of the 1991 Alma-Ata Declaration in the border delimitation process.
Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev said his country was ready to chair the CIS in 2028 and host the heads-of-state summit that autumn. Baku aims to raise annual freight volumes on the East–West and North–South corridors passing through Azerbaijan to 15 million tonnes on each route. Transit through the country increased by 10% in the first half of 2026 to nearly 8 million tonnes. Aliyev also stressed the strategic importance of Azerbaijan’s relations with Turkmenistan.
Russian President Vladimir Putin said Russia’s trade turnover with CIS countries exceeded $110 billion in 2025, while national currencies accounted for more than 90% of mutual settlements. He called for removing trade barriers and strengthening cooperation against money laundering, corruption, cybercrime, drug trafficking, terrorism and organised crime. Putin also emphasised the importance of preserving shared historical memory.
Kazakhstan’s President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev proposed a unified CIS development strategy through 2035 and industrial and technological projects for 2027–2030. His initiatives included the Aral–Caspian railway, which would extend for more than 1,500 kilometres. According to Kazakhstan’s estimates, the route could shorten the China–Europe journey by 1,000 kilometres and reduce freight transit time by three days. Tokayev also proposed developing autonomous cross-border freight transport with Russia, holding an artificial intelligence forum in Astana in the first quarter of 2027 and creating a digital “Golden Library Fund” for the CIS. He said Kazakhstan’s trade turnover with CIS countries was around $40 billion in 2025 and grew by 10% in the first seven months of 2026.
Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko said the CIS had not exhausted its potential and called for preserving economic and humanitarian ties. Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov highlighted trade, investment, joint production, energy, agriculture, transport, logistics, the digital economy and innovation. He invited leaders to the second Global Mountain Summit, “Bishkek+25”, planned for Kyrgyzstan in October 2027, and proposed events marking the centenary of Chingiz Aitmatov in 2028.
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian proposed a “CIS+1” format involving Iran to expand cooperation in transit, energy, trade, mining, investment, technology and tourism.
Under the summit’s outcomes, Uzbekistan will chair the CIS in 2027, with Turkmenistan and Azerbaijan serving as co-chairs. 2028 was declared the Year of Social Development and Quality of Life, while 2029 was designated the Year of Transport Connectivity. Participants also approved decisions concerning the population census, cooperation against information technology crimes, coordination among prosecutors general and the transfer of sentenced persons to serve their sentences.
Tajikistan’s President Emomali Rahmon described the CIS as an important platform for political, economic and humanitarian cooperation and security. He highlighted industrial partnerships, transport, digitalisation, artificial intelligence, the green economy and renewable energy. Rahmon recalled the initiative to declare 2027–2036 the International Decade for Strengthening Peace for Future Generations. Dushanbe plans to host a high-level conference on the initiative in June 2027 with the United Nations and international partners.
Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said peace with Azerbaijan had become a reality. According to him, there had been no fatalities from shootings for more than two years, Armenian cargo had been transported by rail through Azerbaijan for nearly a year, and the two sides had delimited and demarcated a 12-kilometre section of their border. He also highlighted the importance of the 1991 Alma-Ata Declaration in the border delimitation process.
Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev said his country was ready to chair the CIS in 2028 and host the heads-of-state summit that autumn. Baku aims to raise annual freight volumes on the East–West and North–South corridors passing through Azerbaijan to 15 million tonnes on each route. Transit through the country increased by 10% in the first half of 2026 to nearly 8 million tonnes. Aliyev also stressed the strategic importance of Azerbaijan’s relations with Turkmenistan.
Russian President Vladimir Putin said Russia’s trade turnover with CIS countries exceeded $110 billion in 2025, while national currencies accounted for more than 90% of mutual settlements. He called for removing trade barriers and strengthening cooperation against money laundering, corruption, cybercrime, drug trafficking, terrorism and organised crime. Putin also emphasised the importance of preserving shared historical memory.
Kazakhstan’s President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev proposed a unified CIS development strategy through 2035 and industrial and technological projects for 2027–2030. His initiatives included the Aral–Caspian railway, which would extend for more than 1,500 kilometres. According to Kazakhstan’s estimates, the route could shorten the China–Europe journey by 1,000 kilometres and reduce freight transit time by three days. Tokayev also proposed developing autonomous cross-border freight transport with Russia, holding an artificial intelligence forum in Astana in the first quarter of 2027 and creating a digital “Golden Library Fund” for the CIS. He said Kazakhstan’s trade turnover with CIS countries was around $40 billion in 2025 and grew by 10% in the first seven months of 2026.
Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko said the CIS had not exhausted its potential and called for preserving economic and humanitarian ties. Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov highlighted trade, investment, joint production, energy, agriculture, transport, logistics, the digital economy and innovation. He invited leaders to the second Global Mountain Summit, “Bishkek+25”, planned for Kyrgyzstan in October 2027, and proposed events marking the centenary of Chingiz Aitmatov in 2028.
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian proposed a “CIS+1” format involving Iran to expand cooperation in transit, energy, trade, mining, investment, technology and tourism.
Under the summit’s outcomes, Uzbekistan will chair the CIS in 2027, with Turkmenistan and Azerbaijan serving as co-chairs. 2028 was declared the Year of Social Development and Quality of Life, while 2029 was designated the Year of Transport Connectivity. Participants also approved decisions concerning the population census, cooperation against information technology crimes, coordination among prosecutors general and the transfer of sentenced persons to serve their sentences.
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