The fourth meeting of the High-Level Strategic Cooperation Council was held in Ankara on January 29 under the co-chairmanship of President of Türkiye Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev.
The parties emphasized that mutual trade volumes, as well as the number of joint ventures and projects with leading Turkish companies, continue to grow.
A goal was set to increase bilateral trade turnover to $5 billion in the coming years, including through expanding the list of goods covered by the Preferential Trade Agreement.
The significant potential for interregional cooperation was also noted. By the end of the year, delegations from all regions of Uzbekistan are expected to visit Türkiye to develop a portfolio of projects with partner regions.
Particular attention was paid to developing cooperation in tourism, holding theater festivals and culture weeks, the joint production of historical films, and the restoration of cultural heritage sites.
Mirziyoyev emphasized that Uzbek-Turkish relations of friendship and comprehensive strategic partnership have reached a qualitatively new level in recent years.
Last year, bilateral trade exceeded $3 billion, the number of joint ventures reached 2,200, while the total volume of utilized investments amounted to about $10 billion.
About 100 flights are operated weekly between the two countries. A portfolio of projects worth $9 billion has been formed with the participation of leading Turkish companies.
As part of his visit to Ankara, President Mirziyoyev and President Erdoğan took part in the opening ceremony of the Uzbekistan residential complex, constructed by the Uzbek side in Hatay Province.
Speaking at the ceremony, the leader of Uzbekistan noted that the devastating earthquake that occurred last year was a severe ordeal for the brotherly Turkish people. Uzbekistan began providing comprehensive support to Türkiye from the very first days of that tragic period.
Within a short period, 100 Uzbek rescuers and 70 medical personnel were dispatched to the disaster zone. As a result of the search and rescue operations, 18 people were saved, and about 200 victims were pulled from the rubble.
Uzbekistan promptly constructed a modern residential complex in the Arsuz District of Hatay Province, consisting of 24 apartment buildings with over 300 fully equipped apartments and modern infrastructure.
The President of Türkiye noted that this complex is not only a new home for the affected families but also a vivid symbol of the eternal friendship between the Uzbek and Turkish peoples.
The heads of state presented the keys to the new apartments to their owners.
The Presidents also launched the construction of an Uzbek school in the Bakırköy District of Istanbul — Uzbekistan’s first educational institution abroad.
The new school will allow children from Uzbek families living in Türkiye to receive an education in their native language, as well as to preserve their national values, culture, and traditions.
Photo: president.uz
