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Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan had a series of bilateral meetings with leaders from Central and South Asia on Friday during the 17th summit of the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) Khankendi, Azerbaijan, according to official readouts and regional media reports.
Erdoğan met with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov, Tajik President Emomali Rahmon, Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian.
The meetings took place as heads of state from ECO member countries convened to discuss economic cooperation, climate resilience and regional stability under the theme “New ECO Vision for a Sustainable and Climate Resilient Future.”
Erdoğan’s meeting with Iranian President Pezeshkian was held behind closed doors. Turkish and Iranian media reported that the two leaders exchanged views on regional security and bilateral cooperation. The meeting came amid heightened tensions between Iran and Israel as well as ongoing instability across the Middle East.
Erdoğan also met with newly elected Pakistani Prime Minister Sharif to discuss trade, energy and transport projects. With the Uzbek and Kyrgyz leaders, the focus reportedly included strengthening commercial ties and logistics corridors across the region.
His talks with Tajik President Rahmon covered issues ranging from regional development to education and energy cooperation, while the meeting with Azerbaijani President Aliyev centered on bilateral ties and post-conflict reconstruction in areas reclaimed by Azerbaijan.
The summit, hosted by Azerbaijan, marks the first major international event held in Khankendi since the territory was retaken by Baku following the 2023 military operation against Armenian forces. The location was seen by observers as a symbolic choice aimed at showcasing Azerbaijan’s assertion of sovereignty over the region.
Founded in 1985 by Turkey, Iran and Pakistan, the ECO now includes 10 members. The organization promotes regional cooperation in trade, transport, energy and environmental policy.
A joint communiqué is expected at the conclusion of the summit on Saturday.