Uzbekistan - OTS: Common Roots and Common Future

Five states - Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkey and Uzbekistan - are currently members of the Organization of Turkic States. Hungary, Turkmenistan and the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) also have observer status in the Organization.

"The Organization of Turkic States occupies an important place in the new world order and system of international institutions being formed today," President Shavkat Mirziyoyev said at the OTS summit in Astana last year. - The territory of our organization, covering a population of 175 million, is also a region with great economic opportunities. I am very pleased to note that my country has established a strategic partnership with all members of the Organization".

It is worth recalling that the current name of the Organization of Turkic States was given on 12 November 2021 on the initiative of the President of Uzbekistan, earlier this association was called the Cooperation Council of Turkic-speaking States.

Today, the OTS has become an effective international structure that promotes the development of practical partnership in all priority areas. The total GDP of the OTS states is 1.6 trillion dollars, and by the end of 2024, the economy of the Turkic countries is expected to reach 1.9 trillion dollars.

The main goal of the OTS is to strengthen trust and multifaceted ties between the brotherly countries, develop cooperation in trade, economy, energy, tourism, transport, cultural and humanitarian spheres, and coordinate efforts to ensure peace and security in the region.

The conceptual basis for promoting this goal is the Programme "Turkic World Vision - 2040" adopted following the 8th Summit of Heads of State in November 2021 in Istanbul.

The member countries have set themselves the tasks of developing comprehensive cooperation, forming a platform for discussion and deepening interaction, strengthening mutual trust, friendship, good neighborliness, as well as maintaining stability and security in the region and the world as a whole. The member states of the organization are interested in developing coordinated positions on foreign policy issues of common interest, including within the framework of international organizations and forums. An important goal is to promote regional and bilateral cooperation in all directions, to create favorable conditions for trade and investment, the free movement of goods, capital, services, technology and the facilitation of financial and banking transactions, and joint efforts aimed at comprehensive and balanced economic growth and social and cultural development.

For Uzbekistan, which joined the organization in 2019, participation in this structure has become an important step not only in strengthening economic and political ties, but also in maintaining and developing the common cultural identity of the Turkic world. Uzbekistan actively demonstrates initiative in promoting humanitarian projects and positions itself as a key partner in the implementation of programmes to preserve common heritage and promote cooperation.

Uzbekistan held the Chairmanship of the OTS in 2022-2023. The beginning of the Chairmanship was marked by the admittedly historic Samarkand Summit held under the slogan "A New Era of Turkic Civilization: On the Path to Common Progress and Prosperity" in November 2022.

During Uzbekistan's chairmanship, more than 100 events were held and a number of new platforms for practical interaction were created. Such structures as the Organization of Trade Unions of Turkic States, the Academy of Space Research, the Geographical Council, the Institute for Drought Prevention and the Union of Notaries have begun to function. Close partnerships have been established with a number of authoritative global and regional structures - the United Nations and its specialized institutions, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, the Conference on Interaction and Confidence-Building Measures in Asia and the Economic Cooperation Organization. During its chairmanship, Uzbekistan has sought versatile and flexible forms of interaction based on openness and inclusiveness, involving different regions and civilizations.

A landmark event at the end of the Samarkand summit was the adoption of the "Strategy of the OTS for 2022-2026", which became the first "road map" for the implementation of the concept of development of the Turkic countries "Turkic World Vision - 2040".

During the OTS Summit in Astana on 3 November 2023, President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev was awarded the "Supreme Order of the Turkic World" for his outstanding contribution to strengthening the unity of the Turkic family, active promotion of the interests and views of Turkic countries in the international arena.

"I perceive this award, first of all, as a symbol of our close friendship and cooperation, which we have raised to a new level, relying on the true ties of brotherhood," the head of our state said at the ceremony, expressing gratitude to his colleagues.

Uzbekistan continues to take an active stance, putting forward effective initiatives to expand and strengthen cooperation. To date, more than 60 initiatives put forward by the head of our state during the OTS summits have been realized and are in the process of implementation.

Our country actively participates in projects aimed at preserving and promoting cultural and historical heritage and developing new trade and transport routes linking Central Asia with Europe and other regions. In the field of education, Uzbekistan actively participates in exchange programmes for students and researchers, which helps to strengthen ties between universities and research centers in Turkic countries. Cooperation in the field of education is actively supported, including the creation of joint educational programmes and academic platforms for the exchange of experience. The development of projects in the field of energy and environmental protection is also an important aspect of Uzbekistan's initiatives.

Today, our country advocates for strengthening the financial mechanisms of the organization, in particular the Investment Fund of the OTS, which began its activities this year, as well as for the early launch of the Development Bank of the organization, initiated by the President of Uzbekistan.

Uzbekistan's bilateral cooperation with OTS member and observer countries is also characterized by positive dynamics. Thus, Uzbekistan has raised the status of relations with all OTS member countries, in particular to the level of strategic partnership with Turkmenistan and Hungary, comprehensive strategic partnership with Turkey and Kyrgyzstan, and alliance with Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan.

The scale of investment co-operation is steadily growing. In 2017-2022, the OTS countries invested more than $4 billion in our country's economy, which is 8 percent of the total volume of foreign investment over the period.

Thus, the summit of the Organization of Turkic States in Bishkek will serve as a platform for launching new initiatives by Uzbekistan to develop and strengthen the potential of the OTS, and its outcomes will undoubtedly become another starting point for enhancing multilateral cooperation for the sake of progress and prosperity of Turkic people.

Dunyo IA