Foreign ministers from Central Asian countries and Russia convened in Almaty for a regular meeting under the Central Asia-Russia format. The gathering focused on reviewing progress made since the First Central Asia-Russia Summit held in Astana in October 2022, and on charting a course for deepening regional cooperation.
Kazakhstan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Murat Nurtleu, represented the host country at the six-party meeting. During his address, Nurtleu highlighted the strengthening ties among the participating nations, pointing to a notable increase in trade volumes. In 2024, interregional trade turnover reached $44.7bn—an 11.3% rise compared to 2023.
He also stressed key cooperation projects including the transit of Russian gas through Kazakhstan to other Central Asian countries, joint efforts in modernizing electric power facilities, and the development of international transport corridors. Infrastructure improvements, such as road and railway upgrades, were also noted as tangible outcomes of collaborative efforts.
Nurtleu emphasized the importance of sustaining the momentum of cooperation, identifying new growth opportunities, and enhancing regional security. “It is necessary to maintain the strength of partnerships based on trust, mutual respect, and common historical proximity,” he stated.
The ministers completed joint preparations for a draft Joint Action Plan for 2025–2027, which will be presented to the heads of state at the upcoming Second Central Asia-Russia Summit.
The parties reaffirmed their commitment to the “CA+” format as a stable platform for interregional cooperation, with a shared focus on trade, investment, transport, and logistics.
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