The 111th meeting of the Economic Council of the Commonwealth of Independent States was held at the Yyldyz Hotel in Ashgabat. The event took place within the framework of Turkmenistan's Chairmanship Concept in the CIS for 2026 and the Action Plan for its implementation.
The meeting was attended by the CIS Secretary General, representatives of the CIS Executive Committee, heads of relevant ministries and departments, as well as diplomatic missions of Turkmenistan, Azerbaijan, Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan.
As noted, Turkmenistan's Chairmanship Concept in the CIS for 2026 was previously circulated as an official document of the 80th session of the UN General Assembly under the agenda item "Cooperation between the United Nations and regional and other organizations." The document outlines key areas of cooperation, including ensuring peace and security, the economy, developing transport connectivity, digital transformation, the environmental agenda, and humanitarian cooperation.
The meeting agenda included matters concerning the intensification of economic ties within the Commonwealth, trade and investment opportunities, the Action Plan for the implementation of the strategy for ensuring transport security in international carriage for 2026–2030, the concept for developing industrial cooperation in high-tech sectors, as well as financial and organizational issues.
In a narrow format, the participants reaffirmed their readiness to jointly and effectively utilize the North–South international transport corridor and discussed matters regarding the holding of the next meeting of the CIS Economic Council. In an expanded format, the participants noted that cooperation across the CIS space is being enriched with new substance, and that Turkmenistan's chairmanship this year is aimed at the comprehensive expansion of interaction. Attention was drawn to the upcoming meeting of the CIS Council of Heads of State scheduled for October in the Avaza National Tourist Zone.
In his speech, CIS Secretary General Sergey Lebedev thanked President of Turkmenistan Serdar Berdimuhamedov and National Leader of the Turkmen people, Chairman of the Halk Maslakhaty of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov for the conditions created and the hospitality extended during the regular meeting of the Economic Council on Turkmen soil. He congratulated Turkmenistan on the approaching 35th anniversary of its independence and wished for the successful holding of the meeting of the Halk Maslakhaty of Turkmenistan, describing it as an important event in the country's development and the strengthening of national unity.
Sergey Lebedev noted that the events planned within the framework of Turkmenistan's chairmanship of the CIS are being carried out at a high standard, expressing confidence that the meeting of the CIS Council of Heads of State in Avaza will likewise be held at a traditionally high organizational level.
The participants considered proposals for developing mutual trade turnover among CIS states, reviewed the activities of the Interstate Council for Standardization, Metrology and Certification for 2023–2026, as well as the work of the Intergovernmental Council on Agro-Industrial Complex Issues of the CIS. Special attention was paid to humanitarian cooperation—including the continuity of medical education, prevention of infectious diseases, health and resort treatment, and archival affairs.
Following the 111th meeting of the CIS Economic Council, documents aimed at the further development of strategic cooperation were signed and approved. The meeting participants thanked the Turkmen side for the high level of forum organization. After the conclusion of the meeting, a statement on its outcomes was delivered to press representatives.
