Turkey, Azerbaijan, Uzbekistan adopt Ankara Declaration for stronger trade ties

Azerbaijan, Turkey and Uzbekistan recently signed and adopted the Ankara Declaration, after the second trilateral meeting of the ministers of foreign affairs, trade, economy and transport from the three countries.

Taking to X, Azerbaijan’s ministry of foreign affairs announced that the declaration includes a reaffirmation of the commitment to enhance collaboration on regional and international issues of common interest between the three nations. The declaration also stresses on a comprehensive action plan to strengthen cooperation in transport and regional connectivity, as per reports. 

Additionally, the countries are working on improving the efficiency and competitiveness of the Middle Corridor, i.e, the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route (TITR). The Middle Corridor is a trade route from Southeast Asia and China to Europe via Kazakhstan, Caspian Sea (using train ferries to cross the Caspian), Azerbaijan, Georgia and Turkey.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan also held meetings with delegations from Uzbekistan and Azerbaijan to discuss ways to boost regional trade and connectivity between the three nations.

At the meeting, Uzbekistan’s Foreign Minister Bakhtiyor Saidov delivered a letter from President Shavkat Mirziyoyev.

“We conveyed the warmest greetings and a letter from His Excellency the President of Uzbekistan, Shavkat Mirziyoyev. The strong ties between our leaders form the foundation for close cooperation in all areas. Our peoples, connected by a shared history, traditions, and customs, are working together for a better future,” Saidov wrote on social media.

As part of the discussions, the three countries also discussed expanding trade routes between Asia and Europe, according to a report by the Anadolu Agency.

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan hailed the Middle Corridor as the most reliable and cost-effective trade route between the two continents.

Besides trade and connectivity, the three sides discussed regional security concerns, including the situation in Syria.