A meeting of the Council of Heads of State of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) in a narrow format was held in the capital of Kazakhstan Astana on Friday, according to the Press Service of the President of Kazakhstan.
President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Zhomart Tokayev in his speech welcomed all participants of the CIS summit.
"As a member of the Council today, the President of Turkmenistan, distinguished Serdar Gurbangulyevich Berdimuhamedov, is participating in the meeting for the first time. On behalf of my colleagues present here and on my own behalf, I would like to welcome you and wish you success in your responsible state activity," Tokayev said.
He added that, "Today, important issues related to humanitarian partnership, security and other aspects of our cooperation have been presented to the Council of Heads of State for consideration."
The Kazakh Leader said thanks to joint work, a number of important initiatives aimed at expanding trade-economic cooperation, maintaining close cultural-humanitarian ties between the countries, as well as increasing the potential and international prestige of the Commonwealth were carried out.
The Kazakh President stated the importance of discussing climate issues, adding that climate change aggravates the problem of water supply in almost all CIS countries.
President Ilham Aliyev of Azerbaijan, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan of Armenia, President Alexander Lukashenko of Belarus, President Sadyr Japarov of Kyrgyzstan, President Vladimir Putin of Russia, President Emomali Rahmon of Tajikistan, President Serdar Berdymuhamedov of Turkmenistan and President Shavkat Mirziyoyev of Uzbekistan also spoke during the meeting.
Astana will also host the first Russia-Central Asia Summit on the afternoon of October 14, which will result in the adoption of a joint statement.
Photos: Akorda.kz