The third meeting of the Uzbekistan-Türkiye High-Level Strategic Cooperation Council was held under the chairmanship of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev and the President of the Republic of Türkiye Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.
The head of our state, expressing gratitude to the leader and people of Türkiye for the hospitality and warm welcome, stressed that today’s meeting is held on the eve of the sacred holiday of Eid al-Adha and in the year of celebration of the 32nd anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries.
– The establishment of the Strategic Cooperation Council opened a new page in the history of Uzbek-Turkish relations and gave a strong impetus to the further development of partnership in all spheres, – said the Head of our state.
Political dialogue, inter-parliamentary relations and cultural and humanitarian exchanges, trade, economic and investment cooperation are developing dynamically.
In recent years, trade turnover has increased 1,5 times, the number of joint ventures has doubled, and the volume of Turkish investment in the Uzbek economy has increased 2,5 times. Between the major cities of the two countries are 90 flights per week, and the flow of tourists from Turkey has increased by 3 times.
The aim is to increase bilateral trade to US $5 billion as soon as possible.
Today in Uzbekistan such leading Turkish companies as “Cengiz Holding”, “Aksa Energy”, “Çalık Holding”, “Akay Inşaat”, “Anadolu Group”, “Özgüven”, “Eczacıbaşı Holding” successfully implement more than 100 projects. Within the framework of this visit, a portfolio of new investment projects worth US $10 billion was formed.
To further increase bilateral trade and economic cooperation, the importance of strengthening industrial cooperation, deepening the localization of production of goods with high added value and joint entry into the markets of third countries was noted.
The need to reduce customs tariffs within the framework of the Preferential Trade Agreement and to open a trade office of Uzbekistan in Istanbul was also stressed.
Attention was paid to the demand for the introduction of the advanced Turkish experience and mechanisms of public-private partnership, expansion of cooperation in the field of agriculture and water, digitalization of health care and the creation of medical clusters.
Another important area of cooperation is to increase the transport and logistics potential of the two countries, including through the effective use of the Middle Corridor.
Particular attention was paid to the development of partnerships in higher, vocational and technical education, the holding of theatre festivals, cultural weeks, joint filming of historical films and the restoration of cultural heritage sites.
The parties welcomed the adoption of the Declaration on deepening the comprehensive strategic partnership and the establishment of the Uzbek-Turkish Business Council under the leadership of the Heads of the two countries.
Following the meeting, governments were instructed to adopt a joint “road map” for the implementation of the decisions taken.
At the end of the talks, Shavkat Mirziyoyev invited Recep Tayyip Erdoğan to visit Uzbekistan for the next meeting of the Council.