Uzbekistan - Turkey: a new stage of strategic partnership at the highest level
On February 19, 2020, the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev has arrived in Turkey at the invitation of the President of the Republic of Turkey Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
Shavkat Mirziyoyev was met by members of the Turkish government, chiefs of Ankara province and city, as well as other officials at Ankara Esenboğa Airport.
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President Shavkat Mirziyoyev visited Anitkabir memorial complex in Ankara and laid a wreath at the burial place of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk.
Mustafa Kemal was an outstanding son of Turkish people, a great statesman. He was the leader of the national liberation struggle in Turkey, which divided after the First World War and ended up in occupation. In 1923, he declared the independence of the country, the founding of the Republic of Turkey and became its first President. His reforms in politics, social and cultural life determined further development of the country. In 1934, the Turkish Parliament granted him the surname “Ataturk” (“Father of the Turks”).
President of Uzbekistan also got acquainted with the museum of the complex, left a note in the Book of Honored Guests.
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The official meeting ceremony of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan has taken place at the Presidential Palace in Ankara.
The guard of honor lined up in reverence to the distinguished guest. Shavkat Mirziyoyev and Recep Tayyip Erdogan rose to the podium. They paid tribute to the national anthems of Uzbekistan and Turkey. The two leaders walked along the guard of honor.
Then the heads of state met in a contracted format. They discussed issues related to enhancement of multifaceted Uzbekistan – Turkey cooperation, primarily in political, trade-economic, cultural-humanitarian spheres.
The need was noted for holding regular meetings of the Intergovernmental Commission on Trade and Economic Cooperation in order to use the available opportunities in mutually beneficial areas and promote new projects and programs.
The importance was noted of expanding transport links, establishing multimodal international transit to Europe through Turkey.
Issues of attracting the best practices of Turkey in intensive horticulture, fish farming, animal husbandry and breeding, conducting joint research by engaging universities and research centers of the two countries were discussed.
The proposal was considered to open modern clinics and diagnostic centers in Uzbekistan, to implement educational programs in small business, textile production and other areas in cooperation with Turkish partners.
During the conversation that took place in a sincere and friendly spirit, the parties reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening political dialogue and multifaceted cooperation. Views were exchanged on the issues of regional and international agenda of mutual interest.
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On February 19, Ankara hosted the first meeting of Uzbekistan – Turkey Strategic Cooperation Council of the highest level.
The Council is a dialogue format new to the history of bilateral relations. It was established in accordance with the Joint Statement of the Heads of State in 2018.
The body operates under the co-chairmanship of the Presidents of Uzbekistan and Turkey. It defines a joint strategy for development of cooperation in politics, security and defense, economy and trade, investments, tourism, energy, transport and transit, agriculture and forestry, culture, education, science and technology, innovation, healthcare, as well as in other areas of mutual interest.
The President of the Republic of Turkey greeted the President of Uzbekistan and expressed satisfaction with the enhancing interaction between the parliaments, government agencies and business circles of the two countries. Recep Tayyip Erdogan noted his full-fledged support for joint projects of Turkey and Uzbekistan.
President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev thanked the leader and the people of Turkey for the hospitality and warm respect demonstrated towards the delegation of Uzbekistan.
“This meeting is a bright embodiment of the current high level strategic partnership between our two countries. Surely, the Council will serve as an important backbone for the implementation of priority tasks to bring the trade turnover between our countries to five billion dollars in the coming years. It’s advisable for us to consolidate the results of this meeting and now decide on the agenda for the upcoming meeting next year and the key areas of our cooperation”, the President of Uzbekistan noted.
Uzbekistan – Turkey cooperation has intensified significantly over the past three years. Shavkat Mirziyoyev’s state visit to Turkey in October 2017 and Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s to Uzbekistan in April 2018 strengthened mutual political trust and opened up great opportunities for a fruitful partnership.
The effect of intensive contacts and shared aspirations has found reflection in economic cooperation. Thus, the trade turnover exceeded 2.5 billion dollars in 2019 in contrast to the nearly 1.2 billion USD in 2016. In Uzbekistan, there are more than 1.3 thousand enterprises with participation of Turkish investments. Investment projects worth 500 million USD are being implemented.
Interaction has been expanding in the transport sector. For instance, in 2019, the volume of motor road transportation grew by 33 percent, by rail – 17 percent, by air – 42 percent.
In addition, 64 thousand Turkish tourists visited Uzbekistan last year.
It was noted that thanks to the support from the leaders of the two countries and the favorable conditions created, the scale of cooperation could expand even further.
At the meeting, the ministers of trade of Uzbekistan and Turkey presented detailed information on the current state of bilateral cooperation.
A wide range of issues of interstate cooperation, ways to solve them and key tasks for the future was considered during the negotiations. The parties agreed on realization of joint projects.
Shavkat Mirziyoyev invited Recep Tayyip Erdogan to Uzbekistan to the next meeting of the Strategic Cooperation Council.
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After the negotiations, Presidents Shavkat Mirziyoyev and Recep Tayyip Erdogan have signed a Joint Statement on the results of the first meeting of the Strategic Cooperation Council. Documents on cooperation in trade, economics and technology were also signed.
At the briefing for media representatives, Recep Tayyip Erdogan noted that he was pleased with the visit of the President of Uzbekistan.
“We greatly appreciate and value the visit of the delegation from the country that raised the great Imam Bukhari, Imam Moturidi, Ali Qushchi, Alisher Navoi, who, with their knowledge and creativity, gave the world good. We highly appreciate that our relations with Uzbekistan, based on strong fraternal ties, have risen to the level of strategic partnership”, the President of Turkey said.
President Shavkat Mirziyoyev noted that the first meeting of Uzbekistan – Turkey Strategic Cooperation Council of the highest level has opened a new page in the history of friendly relations between the two peoples. A thorough discussion of a wide range of issues regarding interaction in political, trade-economic, investment, transport, cultural-humanitarian and others spheres took place.
“One of the central themes of our dialogue became the implementation of joint projects. New projects worth more than a billion dollars are being developed together with leading Turkish companies”, said Shavkat Mirziyoyev.
The parties confirmed the similarity of views on most regional and international problems, including within the framework of the United Nations, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation and the Cooperation Council of Turkic Speaking States. The need for strengthening cooperation in countering modern threats and challenges was emphasized.
The importance of holding joint events to promote enlightened Islam in culture, science, education, healthcare and sports was noted.
“We are ready to use every opportunity to bring our traditional friendship, full-scale and promising cooperation, which today is developing in the interests of prosperity and peace of our fraternal peoples, to a new level. These principles are reflected in the Joint Statement signed following the negotiations”, the President of Uzbekistan emphasized.
Recep Tayyip Erdogan noted that he was pleased with the visit of the President of Uzbekistan and expressed satisfaction with the results of the negotiations.
Shavkat Mirziyoyev’s visit to Turkey continues.
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Following the official events, the President of Turkey Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his spouse Emine Erdogan hosted a reception in honor of the President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev and his spouse Ziroat Mirziyoyeva. Joint photographing ceremony and conversation took place in a sincere atmosphere.
The event was attended by members of official delegations of the two countries, statesmen and public figures.
UzA
