On April 17, the ninth meeting of the foreign ministers in the Russia-Central Asia format took place in Moscow. The meeting was attended by Foreign Minister of Russia Sergey Lavrov, Foreign Minister of Kazakhstan Yermek Kosherbayev, Foreign Minister of Kyrgyzstan Jeenbek Kulubaev, Foreign Minister of Tajikistan Sirojiddin Muhriddin, Foreign Minister of Uzbekistan Bakhtiyor Saidov, and Deputy Foreign Minister of Turkmenistan Ahmet Gurbanov.
In a traditionally friendly and constructive atmosphere, the parties discussed the implementation of the agreements reached at the second Central Asia–Russia Summit held on October 9, 2025, in Dushanbe, including the large-scale initiatives put forward at the summit.
They reviewed the progress in establishing six-party working groups and coordinating sector-specific roadmaps for implementing the Joint Action Plan in such spheres as the economy, energy, transport, healthcare, culture, education, and environmental protection.
The participants reaffirmed their shared commitment to consistent joint efforts aimed at steadily advancing the comprehensive strategic partnership between Russia and the Central Asian states.
Particular focus was placed on key areas of cooperation, including the economy, energy, environmental issues, and regional security. The high level of interaction among the six countries within the frameworks of the Commonwealth of Independent States, the Eurasian Economic Union, the Collective Security Treaty Organisation, and the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation was also highlighted.
The participants held a substantive discussion on current international issues in the context of the unprecedented escalation of tensions in the Middle East and around Iran.
The meeting marked an important stage in the collective implementation of the decisions adopted by the six heads of state on October 9, 2025.
It provided significant impetus for coordination among relevant government agencies and outlined avenues for deepening cooperation between Russia and the Central Asian countries on the global stage. /// MFA Russia, 17 Apr
Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov’s remarks during the 9th Ministerial Meeting of Russia and Central Asia, Moscow, April 17, 2026
Colleagues,
I am pleased to welcome you to Moscow. We began our joint work yesterday at the CIS Foreign Ministers Council, and today we are holding the ninth meeting of foreign ministers of Russia and Central Asia. This in itself underscores the relevance of this six-party dialogue mechanism. In our view, it is developing successfully and dynamically, to the benefit of all participants.
In October 2025, the second Russia – Central Asia summit was held in the welcoming city of Dushanbe. During the summit, our leaders approved a Joint Action Plan for 2025-2027 and put forward a number of important initiatives. Our task now is to translate these decisions into concrete steps. The Action Plan serves as a framework document, outlining the key areas of our cooperation: trade, economic and investment ties, transport, energy, healthcare, environmental protection, security, cultural and humanitarian engagement, and migration.
Specific projects and initiatives are currently being developed within the six-party working groups established by the relevant agencies of Russia and your countries. As we noted today during the CIS meeting, our relations are grounded in equality, mutual respect, and careful consideration of each other’s interests. They truly deserve the highest recognition as an example of a modern and forward-looking model of international partnership.
Our leaders maintain close and regular communication, both bilaterally and within integration frameworks such as the CIS, the EAEU, the CSTO, and the SCO. Active contacts are also sustained among heads of government, deputy prime ministers, and the leadership of parliaments, ministries, and agencies.
Despite the current geopolitical turbulence – which we examined in detail during today’s CIS meetings – we have succeeded in maintaining a consistently high level of trade turnover. In 2025, it continued to grow, approaching the $50 billion mark.
As I have already noted, cultural and humanitarian cooperation continues to develop. Through our joint efforts, and at the initiative of President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, the International Organisation of the Russian Language was established. The Russian language remains a key means of communication not only between Russia and the Central Asian states, but also among the peoples of the broader post-Soviet space. Our approaches to international issues are closely aligned and, in most cases, coincide. We greatly appreciate that, despite unprecedented external pressure, the Central Asian countries remain committed to their allied obligations, thereby contributing to the dynamic development of our friendly and mutually beneficial relations, both bilaterally and within multilateral frameworks, including the Russia – Central Asia mechanism.
I hope that today we will be able to make a tangible contribution to the implementation of the decisions adopted at the second Russia – Central Asia Summit in Dushanbe. /// MFA Russia, 17 Apr
The delegation of Turkmenistan took part in the regular meeting of the CIS Council of Foreign Ministers and the meeting of the Central Asia – Russia format
On April 17, 2026, a regular meeting of the Council of Foreign Ministers of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) was held in Moscow. The delegation of Turkmenistan was headed by Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan Ahmet Gurbanov.
The meeting was also attended by the heads of the Foreign Ministries of Azerbaijan, Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan, as well as the CIS Executive Committee.
During the meetings in narrow and wide formats, the diplomats exchanged views on topical current issues, including the key aspects of the international and regional agenda, discussed the current state and prospects of cooperation, including in the context of the 35th anniversary of the CIS celebrated this year.
Emphasizing the priority areas and positions of Turkmenistan, the head of the delegation A.Gurbanov noted the constructive nature of cooperation within the CIS, where there is significant potential for joint activities.
During the meeting, special attention was traditionally paid to issues of cooperation between the Ministries of Foreign Affairs of the CIS member states.
The results of the implementation of the Plan of Multilevel Inter-Ministerial Consultations within the CIS and the Action Program for Enhanced Partnership between the Foreign Ministries of the Commonwealth Member States in 2025 were summarized.
Following the meeting, decisions were made aimed at enhancing foreign policy coordination and expanding cooperation in the political, trade, economic, cultural and humanitarian spheres.
The next meeting of the CIS Council of Foreign Ministers is scheduled for October 2026 in Turkmenistan.
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On the same day, the ninth meeting of Foreign Ministers in the Central Asia – Russia format took place in Moscow.
In accordance with the agenda, the participants reviewed the implementation of the Joint Action Plan for 2025–2027, adopted last year at the second Central Asia – Russia Summit.
The traditional exchange of views took place on increasing cooperation in addressing pressing issues on the international agenda, including aspects of maintaining and strengthening regional security.
The diplomats placed special emphasis on the prospects of multilateral cooperation in the economic, energy and environmental spheres. /// MFA Turkmenistan, 18 Apr [Compilation by nCa, 20 April 2026