Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan met with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev on Tuesday on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Heads of State Summit in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, to discuss bilateral relations and strategic regional projects.
According to a statement released by the Turkish Communications Directorate on the social media platform NSosyal, the bilateral talks focused on expanding economic cooperation, strengthening transport networks, and reviewing key regional and global developments.
During the meeting, President Erdogan emphasized that current geopolitical challenges in Eurasia highlight the critical value of joint Turkish-Azerbaijani initiatives, particularly across energy infrastructure, regional supply chains, and cross-border transportation networks.
Erdogan noted that continuing to deepen strategic ties under the foundational principle of "two states, one nation" provides mutual economic and security benefits for both Ankara and Baku. He reaffirmed Türkiye’s commitment to facilitating a lasting peace agreement between Azerbaijan and Armenia, asserting that a final diplomatic settlement would revitalize regional economic stability and trade connectivity.
As part of the bilateral discussions, the Turkish president formally invited President Aliyev to attend the upcoming COP31 climate conference, scheduled to take place in the Mediterranean coastal city of Antalya, Türkiye.
Following the meeting, President Erdogan proceeded to the summit venue to attend the expanded SCO Plus sessions. Upon arrival, he was received by Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov before joining attending heads of state for the traditional official family photograph. During the session, Erdogan stood alongside Tajik President Emomali Rahmon and Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, engaging in brief informal exchanges with several regional leaders.
