Following the collapse of the USSR, the states of Central Asia faced the need to consolidate their statehood, define national development priorities, and strengthen their sovereignty. Under these conditions, regional cooperation, despite a number of individual initiatives, remained a secondary priority and was not accompanied by the creation of sustainable coordination mechanisms. During the 2000s, regional cooperation existed in a fragmented manner, while a significant part of the regional agenda was shaped within initiatives involving external partners. Under these circumstances, the role of the Central Asian states themselves in developing collective regional approaches remained limited.

A significant shift occurred in 2017 when, during the 72nd session of the United Nations General Assembly, the President of Uzbekistan, Sh.M. Mirziyoyev, put forward an initiative to hold regular Consultative Meetings of the Heads of State of Central Asia. The emergence of this format coincided with a growing understanding of the need to strengthen intra-regional dialogue and seek collective approaches to addressing common challenges. Subsequently, the Consultative Meetings became a key platform for fostering an atmosphere of trust and coordinating the regional agenda.

In this context, the progress achieved in regional cooperation may be regarded as a manifestation of growing regional maturity, reflecting a qualitative deepening of interaction among the Central Asian states. This process received institutional recognition within the framework of the United Nations system and was reflected in the decision of the United Nations General Assembly of 20 May 2026, when the resolution “Strengthening Regional Cooperation and Economic Integration for Sustainable Development in the Central Asian Region” was adopted by consensus. The initiative was put forward by the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan during his address at the General Debate of the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly in September 2025.

The document highlights the role and importance of regular Consultative Meetings of the Heads of Central Asian States, which over a relatively short period have become a key mechanism for political dialogue and coordination of regional cooperation. Since the launch of this format in 2018, seven Consultative Meetings have been held.

For reference: the first meeting was held on 15 March 2018 in Astana (Kazakhstan), the second on 29 November 2019 in Tashkent (Uzbekistan), the third on 6 August 2021 in the National Tourist Zone “Avaza” (Turkmenistan), the fourth on 21 July 2022 in Cholpon-Ata (Kyrgyzstan), the fifth on 14 September 2023 in Dushanbe (Tajikistan), the sixth on 9 August 2024 in Astana (Kazakhstan), and the seventh on 16 November 2025 in Tashkent (Uzbekistan). During the latest meeting, the Republic of Azerbaijan joined the consultative format on a permanent basis. The eighth Consultative Meeting of the Heads of Central Asian States is scheduled to be held on 8 October 2026 in the National Tourist Zone “Avaza” in Turkmenistan.

Regular Consultative Meetings of the Heads of Central Asian States have contributed to the formation of a fundamentally new political atmosphere in the region, ensuring a transition from fragmented efforts to a more coordinated framework of interaction. As a result, conditions have been created for the development of a unified regional vision and a fuller realization of collective potential, which in turn opens additional opportunities for expanding cooperation with UN structures and other international organizations.

Efforts to develop consolidated approaches among regional states are also reflected in the “Central Asia Plus” formats, the number of which has exceeded 10 in recent years.

In this regard, the resolution encourages deeper economic integration and enhanced connectivity in Central Asia, as well as the full utilization of the region’s collective potential as one of the necessary conditions for sustainable development and the free movement of people, goods, and services.

Industrial cooperation and strengthening ties among small and medium-sized enterprises in the region are identified as key growth drivers, expected to stimulate innovation and job creation.

The document calls on Member States, relevant UN bodies, and agencies to expand support for Central Asia, flexibly aligning their programs with the priorities defined by the states of the region for their further prosperity.

Within the framework of the document’s development, extensive political and diplomatic work was carried out (over 10 multilateral consultations and numerous bilateral negotiations), resulting in an agreed text consistent with the principles of universality of UN resolutions, as well as the foreign policy and foreign economic interests of the Republic.

As a result, the document received broad interregional support. The resolution was co-sponsored by 66 states representing all major regions of the world across five continents.

The adopted resolution reflects a qualitatively new stage in the development of regional cooperation in Central Asia and may be regarded as an indicator of the region’s maturity. The document indicates a gradual shift from a national agenda to regional interests, while preserving the existing nature of relations between the countries of the region.

The resolution also demonstrates the role of the Republic of Uzbekistan as a state capable of initiating and advancing regionally significant international initiatives, thereby shaping elements of a collective Central Asian agenda at the global level.

One of the key substantive shifts is the transformation of the regional narrative: from a focus on risks and challenges (Afghanistan, extremism, migration processes) to issues of economic integration, trade and transport connectivity, and sustainable development.

In a broader context, Central Asia is increasingly positioning itself not only as an object of international aid, but also as a participant in shaping global agenda outcomes, including sustainable development, energy security, and transport connectivity.

Overall, the adoption of this resolution reflects the consolidation of efforts by the states of the region aimed at shaping a more coordinated and institutionally resilient framework of interaction in Central Asia. The document effectively enshrines, at the level of the United Nations General Assembly, the formation of a new configuration of regional cooperation, based on the strengthening of interconnectivity, the institutionalization of dialogue, and the gradual reinforcement of the international standing of the states of the region.

* The Institute for Advanced International Studies (IAIS) does not take institutional positions on any issues; the views represented herein are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the IAIS.