The
upcoming summit is expected to become an important platform for discussing
topical issues of interaction and determining further priorities for the
development of cooperation between the Member States.
The
formation of the Turkic integration space has a long history, based not only on
the common language, culture and historical heritage, but also on the rich
traditions of educational and intellectual thought of the Turkic peoples. The
Jadid movement of the late 19th and early 20th centuries played a special role
in the formation of ideas of cultural and spiritual rapprochement, whose
representatives advocated the development of education, science, modernization
of society and strengthening ties between the Turkic peoples.
The first
summit of the heads of the Turkic-speaking states was held in Ankara in 1992.
In the Tashkent Declaration of 1996, the heads of State established the
establishment of the Secretariat. In the following years, this format was
steadily developed, which led to the establishment of the Cooperation Council
of Turkic-speaking States in Nakhichevan in 2009. In 2021, at the Istanbul
summit, it was decided to transform the structure into the Organization of
Turkic States (OTS), which reflected the expansion of its activities and
increased international importance.
The main
objective of the organization's activities is to develop comprehensive
cooperation between the member States: Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan,
Turkey and Uzbekistan. Among the priorities are strengthening mutual trust and
good neighborliness, coordinating foreign policy positions, as well as
expanding cooperation in trade, economic, transport, energy, cultural and
humanitarian spheres. Special attention is paid to creating favorable
conditions for trade and investment, developing scientific and technical
cooperation and improving the standard of living of the region's population.
The
organizational structure of the OTG includes a number of key institutions that
ensure the coordination of multilateral cooperation. The supreme body is the
Council of Heads of State, which determines the strategic directions of
development and meets on a regular basis. The advisory functions are performed
by the Council of Elders (Aksakals) of the Organization of Turkic States, which
unites authoritative representatives of the participating countries and
promotes the strengthening of traditions of mutual understanding and trust in the
Turkic world.
Uzbekistan
is an active participant in the processes of rapprochement between the Turkic
states and the development of multilateral cooperation in this format. The
turning point was the participation of President Shavkat Mirziyoyev in the VI
Summit of Turkic-speaking countries, held on September 3, 2018 in the Kyrgyz
city of Cholpon-Ata as an honorary guest. This step has given a new impetus to
the development of the organization. Already in 2019, the republic ratified the
Nakhichevan Agreement, officially consolidating its full participation in the
activities of the OTG.
With the
accession of Uzbekistan, there has been a noticeable intensification of the
organization's activities and an expansion of the agenda of interaction between
the member States. At the summits held in 2019-2025, the President of
Uzbekistan put forward 116 initiatives aimed at deepening multifaceted
cooperation. To date, 64 of them have been implemented, and a number of other
projects are in the final stages. These indicators indicate a systematic and
practice-oriented approach of Uzbekistan to the development of integration
processes within the framework of the Turkic space.
The
implemented initiatives cover a wide range of areas. In the economic and
transport spheres, projects on digitalization of procedures have become
particularly important - the launch of the E-Permit, digital TIR and green
corridor systems aimed at simplifying logistics and developing the transit
potential of the region. The announcement of the city of Kokand as the tourist
capital of the Turkic world and the implementation of the Tabarruk Ziyarat
project, which promotes the development of pilgrimage tourism, became
significant events in the tourism industry.
Cooperation
in the field of youth policy, science and education is actively developing -
forums of young leaders, international conferences and events are held within
the framework of the Union of Turkic Universities. At the same time, attention
is being paid to innovative development - IT forums, startup platforms and
meetings of relevant departments are being organized, including cooperation in
the space sector and the defense industry, which reflects the desire of the
participating countries to form a common technological space.
Of
particular importance in the development of the Organization of Turkic States
is the chairmanship of Uzbekistan, which began following the results of the
Samarkand summit in 2022. During this period, the country not only intensified
practical cooperation, but also introduced institutional innovations into the
organization's activities. In particular, for the first time, the practice of
developing a comprehensive concept and action plan for the period of the
presidency was introduced, which made it possible to give cooperation a more
systematic and consistent character. Over 100 events of various levels and
directions were held within the framework of the chairmanship, covering key
areas of interaction - from economics and transport to science, culture and
education.
The modern
agenda of the TG is formed taking into account the interests of all
participating States, each of which makes its own contribution to the
development of integration processes.
The
economic dimension of cooperation within the framework of the OTG demonstrates
a steady positive trend. According to the results of recent years, the volume
of trade turnover between Uzbekistan and the organization's countries has been
consistently increasing and exceeded $10.8 billion in 2025. Kazakhstan and
Turkey remain our country's key trading partners, while there is an increase in
mutual trade with other member states, which indicates the expansion of
economic integration and deepening of cooperative ties in the region.
In this
context, the upcoming summit of the Organization of Turkic States in Turkestan
will become an important platform for discussing further areas of multilateral
cooperation and developing new joint initiatives. Taking into account the theme
of the summit, special attention is expected to be paid to digital
transformation, the development of joint innovation ecosystems, the
introduction of artificial intelligence technologies, strengthening cooperation
in the field of digital infrastructure and the training of modern highly
qualified personnel.
Along with
this, it is planned to discuss issues of strengthening trade and economic ties,
developing transport and logistics connectivity, expanding investment
cooperation, as well as promoting joint high-tech and innovative projects
within the framework of the Turkic space.
According
to experts, Uzbekistan, consistently advocating for deepening practical
cooperation and strengthening mutual trust in the common Turkic space, intends
to continue to actively contribute to the realization of the organization's
common goals. The upcoming agreements and initiatives are designed to give a
new impetus to integration processes, contribute to the sustainable development
of the region and further enhance the international prestige of the
Organization of Turkic States.
News agency "Dunyo".