Hikmet Hajiyev: Azerbaijan's accession to the C5+1 format means returning to its roots

Azerbaijan's accession to the "C5+1" format means the country's return to its roots.

According to Report, this was stated by Hikmet Hajiyev, Assistant to the President and Head of the Foreign Policy Affairs Department of the Presidential Administration of Azerbaijan, at the CAMCA Regional Forum 2026 in Baku.

According to him, official Baku welcomes the unanimous decision of the Central Asian countries on Azerbaijan's accession to the Consultative Meeting of the Heads of State of Central Asia.

"I always say that, figuratively speaking, this is not just a matter of mathematics — 'five plus one,' that is, Azerbaijan's accession to the Central Asian club. It is a matter of 'chemistry' — a kind of infusion, and Azerbaijan is returning to its roots," Hajiyev said.

He noted that cooperation covers relations, the economy, trade, business and, most importantly, connectivity.

"Azerbaijan, like the countries of Central Asia, has no access to the world ocean, so we are actively working on creating new transport links. Based on these parameters, I think that together with our Central Asian friends and partners we are trying to completely change the transport and communication architecture," the presidential aide noted.

According to Hajiyev, connectivity for Azerbaijan is not just the transportation of goods from one point to another, but a matter of geopolitical significance.

"We are at the very center of the Eurasian continent. Azerbaijan and the countries of Central Asia are creating new links starting from China and extending to the West, and in the opposite direction. I think that our country now plays a key role here, based on a number of important factors," he added.