At the Summit of the Organization of Turkic States (OTS) held in Gabala, Azerbaijan, foreign experts and official representatives highly praised the initiatives and projects presented by the member countries, including Uzbekistan’s significant contribution to strengthening Turkic unity and developing joint programs in various fields.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan Yermek Kosherbayev noted the high level of organization of the summit and emphasized the strategic importance of close interaction between the leaders of the two countries:

– The relations between the leaders of Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan are exceptionally strong and based on trust, which instills confidence in the chosen path of cooperation. We were very pleased with the recent meeting, the discussions were substantive and constructive. We witnessed a high level of mutual understanding and readiness for joint action. Uzbekistan’s approach and your support are highly valuable to us. I am confident that the agreements reached will be successfully implemented, and we have active joint work ahead. It is necessary to hold regular events and develop dialogue in all areas. I would particularly emphasize the importance of strengthening the partnership between our countries, including in such promising fields as artificial intelligence and information technology. I am sure that expanding cooperation will benefit not only our nations but also the entire Turkic world.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Türkiye Hakan Fidan emphasized that Ankara and Tashkent demonstrate the highest level of bilateral cooperation:

– Relations between Türkiye and Uzbekistan are at their highest level. In the future, we expect the implementation of numerous joint projects. I extend my warmest wishes to the people of Uzbekistan.

The President of the Turkic Culture and Heritage Foundation Aktoty Raimkulova drew special attention to the importance of cultural cooperation:

– The summit serves as a platform where fraternal Turkic organizations and countries meet at the level of heads of state. This year, one of the key tasks for our foundation has been to fulfill the instruction of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan to compile a multi-volume collection of Turkic folklore, which he assigned to us at the previous summit in Bishkek. We gathered prominent scholars, folklorists, and linguists, and the result of their work is a seven-volume publication. The first volume is dedicated to ancient epics and includes a section titled ‘The Heroic Epic of the Uzbek People’. Remarkably, the foreword to this volume was written by the esteemed Shavkat Miromonovich Mirziyoyev. The instruction of the Leader of Uzbekistan is truly unique for us, and this publication is indeed a milestone.

Baghdad Amreyev, President of the Turkic Investment Fund, highlighted Uzbekistan’s significant contribution to the development of economic cooperation among the OTS member states and emphasized the special role of President Shavkat Mirziyoyev in shaping and strengthening the organization’s structure:

– As a full member of the Organization of Turkic States, Uzbekistan makes a significant contribution to the development of multifaceted cooperation among the Turkic countries and is also one of the founders of the Turkic Investment Fund. President Shavkat Mirziyoyev played an essential role in strengthening the structure and supported us during the creation of the fund. We are confident that this support will serve the interests of our countries and the successful operation of the fund.

Thus, the summit served not only as a platform for discussing strategic areas of cooperation but also reaffirmed Uzbekistan’s leading role in strengthening political, economic, and cultural ties within the Turkic world. The high praise from partners reflects the country’s growing influence and recognition of its initiatives aimed at promoting sustainable development and unity within the Turkic community.

Aziza Alimova, UzA