A summit of the leaders of CIS countries was held in narrow and expanded formats in the Avaza National Tourist Zone in Turkmenistan.
The meeting was opened by Turkmenistan’s President Serdar Berdimuhamedov, who said that the CIS format had established itself as an attractive platform for consultations on pressing international issues.

According to him, today’s meeting in Avaza is taking place at a significant time — the 35th anniversary of the establishment of the Commonwealth of Independent States.
“Summing up some of the results of the path we have traveled, we can state responsibly that the Commonwealth of Independent States has followed this path with dignity. Despite objective difficulties, we have managed to preserve the foundations of cooperation and ensure that it remains equal, respectful and mutually beneficial,” the head of state said.

The president noted that trade and economic ties among CIS countries were developing steadily, with positive growth in overall trade turnover observed in recent years.
According to him, the agenda for political and diplomatic cooperation is expanding. The CIS format has established itself as an attractive platform for consultations on pressing international issues.

Berdymukhamedov also emphasized that humanitarian cooperation covers a wide range of areas, including culture, science, education and sports.
The summit was attended by Russian President Vladimir Putin, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov, Tajik President Emomali Rahmon, Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan.

The meeting will later continue in an expanded format. For the first time, the leaders of the CIS countries will be joined by Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian.
The summit’s agenda includes around 15 issues. Following the meeting, the heads of state are expected to adopt a joint statement assessing the CIS’s achievements over the past 35 years and outlining the prospects for the organization’s future development.