President Shavkat Mirziyoyev is attending the Informal Summit of the Organization of Turkic States (OTS) in Shusha, Azerbaijan, highlighting Uzbekistan’s significant role within this regional bloc. This summit is expected to address common issues with a joint approach, emphasizing economic cooperation, technological advancement, transport connectivity, food security, and the revival of interregional harmony.
The upcoming informal OTS summit in Shusha, centered on “Building a Sustainable Future through Transport, Connectivity, and Climate Action,” will further underscore Uzbekistan’s leadership in promoting sustainable development and strengthening the bonds of friendship among Turkic peoples.
President Mirziyoyev attaches great importance to economic cooperation between member states, advocating for an economic cooperation strategy that includes eliminating trade barriers, expanding e-commerce, and increasing trade volume.
From 2019 to 2023, President Mirziyoyev proposed 58 specific initiatives aimed at further developing multifaceted cooperation within the OTS, with 42 of these initiatives successfully implemented and six nearing completion.
During Uzbekistan’s chairmanship of the OTS summit held on November 11, 2022, over 100 events were organized, culminating in the adoption of the “OTS Strategy for 2022-2026,” which represents the first comprehensive roadmap for implementing the concept of development for Turkic countries, known as the “Vision of the Turkic World 2040.” President Mirziyoyev’s emphasis on entering a “New Era of Turkic Civilisation: Towards Common Progress and Prosperity” highlights Uzbekistan’s forward-thinking approach and its dedication to collective advancement. In 2022, the city of Kokand was declared the tourist capital of the Turkic world, and Bukhara was named the first youth capital of the Turkic world.
Uzbekistan’s fundamental transformation in its foreign policy is opening new horizons for growth and progress for its people and the region with the approach of openness, initiative, proactiveness, economic pragmatism, and a focus on multilateralism. Uzbekistan has taken various initiatives globally and regionally to ensure regional security and stability and address global issues the world is facing today. Uzbekistan’s initiatives and commitment will strengthen the OTS’s cooperation among regional stakeholders.
Uzbekistan has become a pivotal player among all regional organizations driving initiatives that promote economic cooperation, cultural exchange, and regional stability. The upcoming summit in Shusha will be another critical step in advancing these goals.
Mr. Khalid Taimur Akram is an Executive Director, Pakistan Research Center for a Community with Shared Future (PRCCSF).
