The first summit of the heads of Turkmenistan, Azerbaijan and Türkiye was held in Turkmenistan’s Avaza National Tourist Zone on the Caspian coast on Wednesday.
The Presidents Serdar Berdimuhamedov, Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Ilham Aliyev first held the narrow format talks. The meeting then continued in expanded format with the participation of the countries’ delegations, according to the official Turkmen media.
The sides discussed issues of further developing a trilateral partnership in the economic sphere. The topics of expanding cooperation in the fields of trade, energy and transport were identified as the most relevant.
In his speech, President Serdar Berdimuhamedov said the first Turkmenistan-Azerbaijan- Türkiye summit will further strengthen political, economic and cultural-humanitarian relations between the countries.
This summit will also facilitate the implementation of plans to create transport and energy corridors with the participation of Turkmenistan, Azerbaijan and Türkiye, the Head of Turkmenistan added.
In his speech, the Turkish Leader Erdogan said he is confident that brotherly ties between Turkmenistan, Azerbaijan and Türkiye will be strengthened on the basis of the strategic capabilities of the countries.
Touching upon cooperation in the energy sphere, Erdogan stated that it is time to start work on supplying Turkmen natural gas to Western markets, according to the Anadolu Agency.
He added that Türkiye is also ready to cooperate with Turkmenistan and Azerbaijan to develop the Dostluk oil and gas field in the Caspian Sea. President Erdogan also expressed the readiness of Ankara to discuss with Turkmenistan and Azerbaijan the issue of importing electricity to Türkiye.
The Head of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev in his speech expressed satisfaction with the cooperation between the countries.
“In January-October 2022, trade turnover between Azerbaijan and Türkiye increased by 45 percent and reached $5 billion,” Ilham Aliyev said, adding that, “This year, trade turnover with Turkmenistan increased 5 times. It is a record figure.”
The summit resulted in the signing of a number of documents on boosting ties between Turkmenistan, Azerbaijan and Türkiye.