ISLAMABAD, Aug 10 (APP):Kyrgyzstan’s Charge d’Affaires in embassy of Kyrgyzstan in Pakistan, Aibek Tilebeliev Kyrgyzstan has described the recent informal Consultative meeting of the heads of State of Central Asia and the Republic of Azerbaijan as a historic turning point for regional cooperation, saying the expanded platform has created new opportunities for connectivity, trade, energy and diplomatic coordination stretching from China to Europe. Speaking at a press briefing here at …
Kyrgyzstan envoy says “Cholpon-Ata Summit” redefines Central Asian geopolitics, opens new corridors to Europe
ISLAMABAD, Aug 10 (APP):Kyrgyzstan’s Charge d’Affaires in embassy of Kyrgyzstan in Pakistan, Aibek Tilebeliev Kyrgyzstan has described the recent informal Consultative meeting of the heads of State of Central Asia and the Republic of Azerbaijan as a historic turning point for regional cooperation, saying the expanded platform has created new opportunities for connectivity, trade, energy and diplomatic coordination stretching from China to Europe.
Speaking at a press briefing here at the Embassy of Kyrgyzstan on Sunday, Kyrgyzstan’s Charge d’Affaires, Aibek Tilebeliev, said the summit, held on July 31 at the Cholpon-Ata tourist zone on the shores of Lake Issyk-Kul, marked a “qualitatively new level” of regional cooperation.
The Consultative Meetings, launched in 2018 among Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan, were established to strengthen interstate cooperation and promote a peaceful, stable and united Central Asia.
Tilebeliev said the Cholpon-Ata meeting marked a major transformation of the format as Azerbaijan participated for the first time as a full participant.
He said the development reflected growing regional harmony, particularly following Kyrgyzstan’s resolution of its long-standing border issues with Uzbekistan and Tajikistan. The three countries have also strengthened their relations through agreements on border junctions and the Khujand Declaration of Eternal Friendship.
“Today, the borders of Central Asia are no longer barriers; they have become bridges of friendship and gateways for trade,” Tilebeliev said.
According to the envoy, the broader Central Asian region, together with Azerbaijan, represents a market and economic space of approximately 85 million people and a gross regional product exceeding US$ 600 billion.
The region’s strategic importance is further enhanced by its fossil fuel reserves, critical minerals, agricultural resources and location between Europe and Asia.
Tilebeliev said the region has increasingly developed “C5+1” dialogue mechanisms with major international partners, including China, Russia, the United States, the European Union, Japan, South Korea and Italy.
During the briefing, Tilebeliev also highlighted Kyrgyzstan’s election as a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council for the 2027–2028 term.
He thanked Pakistan for supporting Kyrgyzstan during the election process and said Bishkek would use its position to advance the shared interests of Central Asian countries.
Kyrgyzstan’s priorities, he said, would include strengthening trust among United Nations member states, improving peace building operations, supporting disarmament and non-proliferation, and highlighting the needs of least-developed, landlocked developing and small island developing states.
He also emphasized conflict mediation, protection of women and children in conflict zones, food and energy security, sustainable development and stability in Afghanistan.
On railways and Energy Projects at the Heart of Regional Connectivity, he said that regional transport and energy connectivity were identified as two of the most important areas discussed at Cholpon-Ata.
Tilebeliev highlighted the China–Kyrgyzstan–Uzbekistan (CKU) railways and the Kambarata-1 hydropower project as flagship initiatives.
The Kambarata-1 project is planned to have a generation capacity of 1,860 megawatts across four turbine units and produce approximately 5.6 billion kilowatt-hours annually.
Kyrgyzstan holds a 34 percent stake, while Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan each hold 33 percent. The project is estimated to cost around US$ six billion and is expected to take approximately 6.5 years to complete.
Meanwhile, more than 17 percent of construction work on the 532-kilometre CKU railway has reportedly been completed. More than 10,000 workers and 7,000 pieces of specialized equipment are involved, with work progressing on eight major bridges and four main tunnels.
The railways will connect Kashgar in China with Torugart, Makmal and Jalal-Abad in Kyrgyzstan before reaching Andijan in Uzbekistan.
Once operational, the estimated US$ 4.7 billion corridor is expected to significantly shorten China-Europe cargo routes and strengthen links with the Middle Corridor.
Tilebeliev said Kyrgyzstan had also proposed a unified tourist visa for foreign visitors travelling across Central Asian states, aimed at unlocking the region’s considerable tourism potential.
The summit also coincided with high-level state visits by Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev to Kyrgyzstan.
Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan signed a Treaty on Allied Relations during President Mirziyoyev’s July 30–August 1 state visit.
Mirziyoyev was also awarded Kyrgyzstan’s Order of Manas, First Class.
Tilebeliev said these agreements demonstrated Kyrgyzstan’s determination to strengthen ties with its closest neighbours while expanding cooperation across the Caspian and South Caucasus regions.
The envoy said the Cholpon-Ata Declaration had created a framework for deeper economic integration, joint investment, industrial development and infrastructure cooperation.
He also stressed the potential for linking the CKU railways with the Middle Corridor and the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, creating new multimodal routes connecting Central Asia with South Asia, the Caspian region and Europe.
Looking ahead, Kyrgyzstan expressed support for Turkmenistan’s chairmanship of the consultative platform and readiness to contribute to the eighth meeting, scheduled for October 8, 2026, in the Avaza National Tourist Zone.
The briefing also highlighted the growing tourism and sporting profile of Issyk-Kul, where President Sadyr Japarov addressed the opening ceremony of the UIM F1H2O World Championship round. The ceremony was attended by the presidents of Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan.
For Pakistan, Tilebeliev said, the emerging trans-Caspian connectivity framework could offer significant economic and strategic dividends, given the country’s position at the crossroads of South Asia, Central Asia and the Middle East.
