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Kazakh expert: Astana and Baku are interested in the development of the Zangezur Corridor

Bauyrzhan Auken, leading expert of the Department of Asian Studies at the Kazakhstan Institute for Strategic Studies under the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan

15 May 2026 12:48 (UTC +04:00)

“Astana and Baku are interested in the development of the Zangezur Corridor,” Bauyrzhan Auken, leading expert of the Department of Asian Studies at the Kazakhstan Institute for Strategic Studies under the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan, said in a statement to journalists, APA’s correspondent dispatched to Turkistan reports.

Bauyrzhan Auken said that the informal Summit of the Heads of State of the Organization of Turkic States (OTS), held today in the city of Turkistan, is of strategic importance in terms of future cooperation between the countries:

“The theme of the summit is dedicated to the digital economy, artificial intelligence, and cybersecurity. These topics were not chosen by chance. It was precisely at last year’s summit held in Gabala that the President of Kazakhstan voiced a number of initiatives that should be promoted within the framework of the OTS regarding cybersecurity and the digital economy. In this regard, today’s summit can be regarded as the implementation and continuation of those initiatives.”

The expert believes that the informal OTS summit will provide a serious impetus to the expansion of cooperation during a period of instability and turbulence:

“Today, traditional transport routes are no longer as relevant as before, and it is precisely the expansion and development of the Middle Corridor that is one of the key issues on the agenda. Today’s summit will give a serious boost to the development of the potential of the Middle Corridor. Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan are interested in developing interconnectivity between the Middle Corridor and the Zangezur Corridor in the future. In this regard, the role of Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan is very important. Because our countries are among the founding states of the Organization of Turkic States and are considered the main driving forces of cooperation. In addition, our countries are also actively supporting the newly emerging OTS+ format. Today’s summit will make an important contribution not only to the development of the organization and multilateral relations, but also to the further strengthening of relations between Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan.”

Ramiz Mikayıloğlu

Kazakhstan Azerbaijan Zangezur Corridor Middle Corridor OTS Organization of Turkic States Turkistan Astana Baku Bauyrzhan Auken digital economy cybersecurity artificial intelligence transport corridors regional cooperation Turkic states