America News Agency

Azerbaijani President Aliyev attended the restricted and expanded-format meetings of the Council of Heads of State of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), held on October 9 in Turkmenbashi, Turkmenistan.

Speaking at the restricted-format meeting, Aliyev said Azerbaijan had built modern transport and logistics infrastructure by making use of the advantages provided by its geographical location, strengthening its position as an important regional transport hub on the North-South and East-West international corridors.

Aliyev said the volume of transit cargo passing through Azerbaijan increased by 10 percent in the first half of 2026 to approximately 8 million tons, noting that the medium-term target is to increase the volume of cargo transported on both corridors to 15 million tons.

35th anniversary of the CIS

Recalling that the CIS is celebrating the 35th anniversary of its establishment this year, Aliyev said the organization has over the years become an important platform for maintaining political dialogue, developing mutually beneficial cooperation and strengthening relations among member states.

Aliyev said humanitarian cooperation is one of the key areas within the CIS and thanked the heads of state who supported the decision to declare the city of Lachin the CIS Cultural Capital. He noted that events held in Lachin last year gave participants an opportunity to learn more closely about the region’s rich and ancient history and to see the scale of the city’s revitalization and ongoing restoration work.

Aliyev said the 3rd CIS Games hosted by Azerbaijan were an important sporting event across the Commonwealth and stated that the competitions were held in seven cities of the country. He said thousands of athletes and guests from CIS member states and different regions of the world took part in the 11-day event, emphasizing that such initiatives build bridges of friendship between countries.

Aliyev thanked the countries that supported the decision for Azerbaijan to assume the CIS co-chairmanship in 2027. Describing the decision as a sign of confidence in Azerbaijan, Aliyev said his country is ready to actively contribute to the fulfillment of common tasks.

Aliyev also said Azerbaijan is ready to assume the CIS rotating presidency in 2028 and to host a meeting of the CIS Council of Heads of State in the autumn of the same year. He thanked Turkmenistan for its traditional hospitality and wished Uzbekistan success in its CIS presidency in 2027.

Following the expanded-format meeting held in Turkmenbashi on the same day, a series of documents covering various areas of cooperation within the CIS were signed.