British News Agency

Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev visited the CIS National Cuisine Festival held in the city of Turkmenbashi on October 8.

Eight countries are represented at the festival, organized as part of Turkmenistan's 2026 CIS chairmanship. A two-section national pavilion was established at the festival site through the joint organization of Azerbaijan's Ministry of Culture and State Tourism Agency.

The culinary section of the pavilion showcased Azerbaijan's national cuisine and gastronomic traditions, while plants, fruits, grains, nuts and other products characteristic of different regions of the country were exhibited. Azerbaijani tea culture, which is included on UNESCO's Intangible Cultural Heritage List, was also presented at the pavilion.

The second section of the pavilion featured carpet weaving, the art of kelaghayi, coppersmithing, wood carving and ceramics. Using an exhibition from the Azerbaijan National Carpet Museum, the interior of a 19th-century Karabakh house was also recreated.

As part of the festival, young mugham performers presented selections of Azerbaijani music and works from the mugham tradition.

Meanwhile, an official reception and concert program were held in Turkmenbashi on behalf of Turkmen President Serdar Berdimuhamedov. Aliyev also attended the event.