The President of the Republic of Uzbekistan, Shavkat Mirziyoyev, paid an official visit to Türkiye at the invitation of President of the Republic of Türkiye Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.

The fourth meeting of the High-Level Strategic Cooperation Council was held under the chairmanship of the leaders of the two states. Following the high-level talks, a package of bilateral documents aimed at further developing cooperation was signed.

Amir Sultonov, Head of the Treaty-Law Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Uzbekistan, noted that the Head of State’s visit to Ankara marked an essential step in strengthening and adding practical substance to the comprehensive strategic partnership between the two countries.

– Following the fourth meeting of the High-Level Strategic Cooperation Council, a Joint Statement was signed outlining priority areas for the further development of partnership between the two states, – A. Sultonov reported.

In addition, an important decision was made to strengthen the institutional foundations of cooperation. In particular, it provides for the establishment of permanent joint committees across various areas and the creation of a systematic mechanism for implementing joint projects.

Economic cooperation became one of the key topics of the meeting. Important agreements were also reached in the field of transport. Plans include developing new international transport corridors linking Uzbekistan to the Caucasus and Europe. In particular, the launch of container rail transportation along the Uzbekistan – Turkmenistan – Iran – Türkiye route is envisaged. This will accelerate export and import operations and create additional opportunities for businesses to enter new markets.

An agreement was also reached on cooperation in developing special economic zones, which will help attract additional investment and modern technologies from Türkiye to Uzbekistan.

Particular note should be made of the signing of an essential agreement in the healthcare sector, under which, within the established quota, citizens of Uzbekistan will be able to receive highly qualified medical care free of charge in medical institutions in Türkiye each year.

Bekhruz Khudoyberdiyev, UzA