Central Asia's five nations, initially overlooked recipients of Chinese investment, are now gaining economic and geopolitical traction due to BRI and global shifts. Once poor Soviet-era states, they are becoming more prosperous and strategically significant.
Armenia's Public Services Regulatory Commission head, Mesrop Mesropyan, stated the country could theoretically import gas from Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan, or Iran. This comes as Russia's Foreign Ministry warned Armenia that Moscow might suspend or cancel gas supply agreements if Yerevan continues its EU accession process.
Turkish Vice President Cevdet Yılmaz met with Turkmen President Serdar Berdimuhammedov to discuss strengthening bilateral cooperation in energy, transport, trade, education, science, and technology. Both leaders expressed a strong will to advance partnerships based on mutual benefit and shared values, aiming to bolster regional stability and development.
Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin will visit Turkmenistan for the CIS Council of Heads of Government meeting. The agenda includes trade and economic cooperation, GIS technologies, digital transformation of mining, and transport routes.
Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov is currently in Kazan to participate in the 17th International Economic Forum ‘Russia — Islamic World: KazanForum’
Salem bin Mohammed Al-Malik has been re-elected as the head of ICESCO during its 15th General Conference in Kazan, Russia, where Kazan was also named the cultural capital of the Islamic world for 2026.
In his message, the Russian president conveyed his best wishes to the leaders of Azerbaijan, Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, as well as to the peoples of Georgia, Moldova, Abkhazia, and South Ossetia
