Following first meeting of the energy ministers of Central Asia and Azerbaijan, a communiqué on cooperation in the energy sector has been signed in Astana, Report’s correspondent from Astana informs.

"The communiqué lays the foundation for further successful cooperation in all key areas between our countries in the energy sector," said Kazakh Energy Minister Almasadam Satkaliyev.

He explained the need to sign this document by the fact that global energy security is of strategic importance for each republic and for the entire region and involves ensuring reliable and stable energy supplies, efficient use of resources, protection of infrastructure and sustainability of the energy system.

"The Central Asian region plus Azerbaijan is an important link in ensuring the sustainability of global energy supplies," the minister emphasized.

Kyrgyz Energy Minister Taalaibek Ibraev, in turn, pointed out the importance of the energy supply issue for Kyrgyzstan. "Therefore, close cooperation in the energy sector will become the basis of our cooperation in Central Asia as a whole," said Ibraev.

Minister of Energy and Water Resources of Tajikistan, Juma Dalera Shofaqir, said that in order to enhance the reliability of the region's energy system, a project to reconnect the energy system of Tajikistan to the Unified Energy System of Central Asia is currently being implemented.

As part of the project, in early June, the energy grid of the southwestern part of Tajikistan was connected to the energy system of the Central Asian Unified Energy System.

At the end of the meeting, all participants noted that in order to maintain regional energy security, it is necessary to have a regular multilateral dialogue and exchange of experience. This will contribute to the stability and reliability of energy supplies.

Turkmenistan was represented at this meeting by the ambassador of this country to Kazakhstan.