UPDATE 2 - Türkiye becoming one of world’s new geopolitical power hubs: Uzbek president

UPDATES WITH AGREEMENT DETAILS

By Anadolu staff

ANKARA/ISTANBUL (AA) - Türkiye is becoming one of the world’s new geopolitical power hubs, said Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev on Thursday as he addressed a joint news conference with Türkiye’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Ankara.

Mirziyoyev said Türkiye’s growing global influence and successes go beyond just the Muslim world, and that its "Century of Türkiye” initiative is being implemented in an orderly and consistent manner.

"Türkiye is literally becoming one of the world’s new geopolitical power hubs," he said.

Erdogan earlier welcomed Mirziyoyev at Ankara's presidential complex, where the two leades attended the Fourth Meeting of the Türkiye–Uzbekistan High-Level Strategic Cooperation Council, which was described as “productive” by Uzbek leader.

Following bilateral and delegation-level meetings, the two sides signed 10 agreements and memoranda of understanding covering cooperation in health, education, culture, transport corridors, mining, energy, higher education, free and special economic zones, and economic and financial affairs.

- ‘No distance can separate us from our brotherly Turkish people’

Mirziyoyev said Uzbekistan always feels, appreciates and welcomes Türkiye’s support, and that Türkiye has become a comprehensive strategic partner through joint efforts.

“Indeed, due to our shared mother tongue and sacred religion, no distance can separate us from our brotherly Turkish people,” he said, adding that the realization of all goals between the two countries is the result of solidarity, unity and togetherness.

He stressed that the two sides agreed to accelerate bilateral relations in all areas in 2026, to regularly hold meetings of the High-Level Strategic Cooperation Council, and to make effective use of the Joint Economic Commission and strategic planning mechanisms.

Mirziyoyev said the two sides decided to launch joint committees as a new format for dialogue at the ministerial and local levels.

- Education ties between Türkiye and Uzbekistan

Mirziyoyev said the construction of the first Uzbek school in Istanbul is a clear indication that education cooperation between the two countries has reached a new qualitative level.

Meanwhile, the International University of Turkic States was opened in the capital Tashkent and the Yunus Emre Institute launched its activities at the Ali Shir Navai University.

- Uzbekistan fulfilled 'duty of brotherhood' during 2023 earthquake in Türkiye

Mirziyoyev said the Uzbek people embraced the pain and suffering of the Turkish people “as their own” during the devastating earthquakes in 2023 in Türkiye.

He underlined that numerous search and rescue teams from Uzbekistan came to Türkiye and carried out operations in the quake-hit areas, fulfilling what he described as a “duty of brotherhood.”

Addressing the the Turkish nation, Mirziyoyev asked to accept the quake houses built by Uzbekistan in Türkiye's Hatay province as a “modest contribution from the ancestral homeland.”

“These prosperous settlements and beautiful buildings will be a shining symbol of our eternal friendship with the brave Turkish people, who never bowed their heads in the face of hardship. May your new homes bring you good fortune,” he said.

“In today’s unstable and rapidly changing world, if we unite our pure goals with goodwill and move forward courageously, no force and no danger can defeat our peoples who share the same roots,” he said.

Mirziyoyev also invited Erdogan and the first lady to visit Uzbekistan.

- Meeting of first ladies

Meanwhile, the first ladies of Türkiye and Uzbekistan, Emine Erdogan and Ziroat Mirziyoyeva, also met in Ankara.

Welcoming Mirziyoyeva at the entrance of Ankara Palas, Emine Erdogan toured the museum with her guest, which features distinguished works from the Ottoman and Republican eras.

Impressed by Anatolian embroidery techniques, Mirziyoyeva invited master trainers from Türkiye’s institutes to Uzbekistan to develop cooperation aimed at teaching these techniques to artists in her country.

“Culture is one of the strongest bridges that brings societies closer together, keeps our shared memory alive, and builds lasting ties between nations. With this perspective, I believe every shared moment will further strengthen the friendship between Türkiye and Uzbekistan, and I wish for our brotherhood to endure,” Emine Erdogan said on the Turkish social media platform Nsosyal.

*Writing by Kanyshai Butun