President Shavkat Mirziyoyev of Uzbekistan laid out a strategic vision for strengthening cooperation among Turkic states during the informal summit of the Organization of Turkic States (OTS) held in Budapest.
Chaired by Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, the summit gathered high-level leaders including Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, and OTS Secretary General Kubanichbek Omuraliev.
The meeting served as a platform for exchanging views on current geopolitical challenges, economic cooperation, and climate-related concerns, all while reinforcing the commitment to closer ties among member states.
In his address, President Mirziyoyev highlighted the rapidly changing global landscape marked by geopolitical tensions, regional conflicts, and climate change. He emphasized the importance of unified approaches rooted in international law and the UN Charter to address pressing international issues.
President Mirziyoyev expressed support for diplomatic efforts to resolve the Ukraine crisis and praised President Erdoğan's role in mediation. He voiced concern over the renewed violence in Gaza, emphasizing that a two-state solution is essential for lasting peace. He also highlighted the need for a collective approach to address the situation in Afghanistan, noting the significance of the Organization's Joint Statement on the issue.
The Uzbek President outlined a set of concrete initiatives aimed at unlocking the untapped potential within the OTS framework. Politically, he underscored the significance of the Treaty on Strategic Partnership, Eternal Friendship, and Fraternity—an initiative from Uzbekistan—as a cornerstone for long-term cooperation among Turkic nations.
Mirziyoyev placed strong emphasis on expanding trade, investment, and logistics cooperation. He proposed launching the “Turk-Trade” online platform and adopting a dedicated program to boost intra-regional trade.
To improve freight movement across the Trans-Caspian International Corridor, he called for implementing a unified "single window" customs system and “green corridors.” Additionally, Uzbekistan plans to host an international forum on multimodal transport and logistics in Tashkent this November.
"To increase cargo transportation along the Trans-Caspian International Transport Corridor and to simplify customs and border procedures, I call for the swift implementation of “Single Window” and “Green Corridor” systems. To expand cooperation in this area, we plan to host the International Multimodal Transport and Logistics Forum of Turkic States this November in Tashkent," president noted.
The president also welcomed the creation of the Turkish Investment Fund and proposed setting up a joint venture company and a single investment portal to support innovative projects across member states.
To deepen industrial cooperation, he suggested creating a joint program to develop large-scale production in sectors such as energy, mining, pharmaceuticals, textiles, and construction materials.
On the climate front, he backed Hungary’s initiative to establish the Institute for Drought Prevention in Budapest and proposed a joint roadmap to combat drought and environmental challenges—building on commitments made during the recent International Climate Forum in Samarkand.
President Mirziyoyev also highlighted the importance of cultural and educational collaboration. He announced the opening of the International University of Turkic States in Tashkent, aimed at nurturing young talent across the region.
He further proposed reforms to strengthen TURKSOY, the International Turkic Cultural Organization, and invited member states to hold the next meeting of the Turkic Cultural Foundation Council in Uzbekistan.
The Uzbek leader concluded by congratulating renowned Turkish scientist and Nobel laureate Aziz Sancar on being awarded the Alisher Navoi International Prize for his outstanding contributions to science.
The summit concluded with the adoption of the Budapest Declaration and several key documents focusing on priority areas for cooperation among Turkic states.
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