New Agreements Advance Central Asia’s Middle Corridor Ambitions

Five Central Asian states and Azerbaijan convened on July 31 at Lake Issyk Kul in Kyrgyzstan to advance their ambitions for the Middle Corridor. The Cholpon-Ata Declaration, the meeting's final document, emphasized the desire to expand trade and maintain regional security, reflecting the high level of trust among the participants.

Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov emphasized Kyrgyzstan's commitment to promoting the common interests of the C6 states during its tenure on the UN Security Council. Azerbaijani leader Ilham Aliyev stressed that relations with Central Asian countries are among Baku's top foreign policy priorities. Bilateral agreements were also signed, including one between Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan on allied relations, and another between Azerbaijan and Kyrgyzstan covering transport, energy, and trade.

Pakistan sought to persuade Kazakhstan to prioritize Pakistani ports over Iranian, offering access to Karachi, Port Qasim, and Gwadar. Kazakhstan expressed interest in building a logistics facility at the Iranian port of Bandar Abbas, despite tensions with the United States. The Middle Corridor benefits from a digital system, eTIR, which expedites cross-border trade and reduces customs clearance time.

This system is crucial for increasing the attractiveness of the corridor and boosting cargo transportation. Azerbaijan's customs service highlighted the S7 initiative, a multi-phase connectivity plan aimed at strengthening regional states' sovereignty and unlocking their full trade potential.