President Erdoğan spoke at a joint press conference with Uzbekistan President Mirziyoyev

 

Holding a joint press conference with President Mirziyoyev of Uzbekistan, President Erdoğan described their talks as productive, and said: “We are pleased that Turkish investments in Uzbekistan are increasing day by day. We will continue to encourage our businesspeople to enhance their investments in Uzbekistan and cultivate bonds that would deepen our partnership.”

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and President Shavkat Mirziyoyev of Uzbekistan held a joint press conference following their meeting at the Presidential Complex.

“I TAKE GREAT JOY IN HOSTING PRESIDENT MIRZIYOYEV AND HIS DELEGATION IN ANKARA”

“I take great joy in hosting President Mirziyoyev and his delegation in Ankara on the occasion of the Third Meeting of the High-Level Strategic Cooperation Council. In your presence, I would like to say ‘welcome’ once again. With my treasured friend, we established the Türkiye-Uzbekistan High-Level Strategic Cooperation Council in 2018. In 2022, we upgraded our relations to the ‘Comprehensive Strategic Partnership’ level. And today, we successfully held the Third Meeting of the High-Level Strategic Cooperation Council,” President Erdoğan said.

“WE WILL ACHIEVE OUR $5BN TRADE VOLUME TARGET IN THE SHORTEST PERIOD OF TIME”

Noting that today’s talks addressed steps to expand the partnership between Türkiye and Uzbekistan, President Erdoğan stated: “We discussed the concrete steps we could take in areas such as trade, agriculture, transportation, energy, culture, education and defense industry. We also signed numerous agreements as part of the council meeting. These agreements will help us diversify the cooperation between the two countries and strengthen its contractual basis. We are pleased that Turkish investments in Uzbekistan are increasing day by day. We will continue to encourage our businesspeople to enhance their investments in Uzbekistan and cultivate bonds that would deepen our partnership. We have already started to take necessary steps to rapidly implement the 107-point Action Plan signed at the end of the Seventh Term Meeting of the Türkiye-Uzbekistan Intergovernmental Mixed Economic Commission. The Business Forum held yesterday will also contribute to this. I am confident that we will achieve our $5bn trade volume target in the shortest period of time with the steps we will take.”   

“I THANK MR. MIRZIYOYEV FOR HIS CONSTRUCTIVE ROLE WITHIN THE ORGANIZATION OF TURKIC STATES”

“Located at the heart of Central Asia, Uzbekistan, with its young and dynamic population nearing 37 million, is growing in regional and global value day by day. The works we carry out with Uzbekistan under the Organization of Turkic States, which brings together our brothers and sisters in Central Asia, our fatherland, are very valuable. Our Unity of Family, which further strengthened with Uzbekistan’s participation in 2019, is an important outcome of the efforts Türkiye has been making for decades with the aim of uniting the Turkic States under a single roof. I would like to thank Mr. Mirziyoyev in your presence for the extremely constructive role he assumes within the OTS,” President Erdoğan stressed.

“I CALL ON ALL CONSCIENTIOUS AND RESPONSIBLE PARTIES TO TAKE IMMEDIATE ACTION TO ESTABLISH A CEASEFIRE”

Adding that Israel’s atrocities in Gaza were high on the agenda of their talks today, President Erdoğan said: “Today, besides our bilateral cooperation, we also exchanged views on regional and international issues considering the tough period our world is going through. One of the top agenda items of our deliberations was the inhuman attacks Israel has been conducting against Gaza for eight months. We view the Palestine issue from the same perspective as Uzbekistan. We reiterate our call to stop the oppression targeting innocent people in Gaza. I extend my thanks to my brother Mirziyoyev for supporting a free Palestinian state and the two-state solution. We are exerting every effort in our power to stop the war and deliver the humanitarian aid our brothers and sisters in Gaza are in need of. We also maintain our initiatives regarding all the legal processes, particularly at the International Court of Justice. Countries that supply Israel with ammunition and weapons for massacres must no longer be complicit in this crime. I once again call on all conscientious and responsible parties to take immediate action to establish a ceasefire.” 

“MY TREASURED BROTHER MIRZIYOYEV HAS TURNED UZBEKISTAN INTO A CENTER OF ATTRACTION”

President Erdoğan continued his remarks as follows: “My treasured brother Mirziyoyev has turned Uzbekistan into a center of attraction in its region with his visionary leadership. He has drawn a distinct horizon for his country with the ‘New Uzbekistan’ and ‘Third Renaissance’ projects. He has carried Uzbekistan to an admirable point with the economic reforms he has implemented in a wide range of areas from energy to agriculture. I wholeheartedly congratulate my brother Mirziyoyev, who has turned Uzbekistan into an eminent power in a short span of time. As Türkiye, we are proud of supporting this process and standing with Mr. Mirziyoyev in his efforts.”

“THIS VISIT WILL FURTHER STRENGTHEN OUR COOPERATION”

Underscoring that just as Türkiye sincerely supports Uzbekistan, Türkiye’s Uzbek brothers and sisters also stand with Türkiye in its difficult days, President Erdoğan said: “We always remember with gratitude the solidarity Mr. President and the Uzbek people displayed with our country in the aftermath of the February 6 earthquakes. Right after the earthquakes, Uzbek authorities transferred search and rescue teams to the region and dispatched nearly 700 tons of relief materials. We see the 306 post-quake houses Uzbekistan is building in Hatay as an embodiment of our eternal brotherhood. On behalf of quake victims and in the presence of my brother Mirziyoyev, I offer my gratitude to the state and people of Uzbekistan. I hereby congratulate the Uzbek team, which won the Fourth International Best Sniper Team Contest in Türkiye. The success of Uzbek snipers, who broke a record five times in the contest, made us proud as well.”

Pointing out that President Mirziyoyev has proved to be a close friend of Türkiye with the firm steps he has been taking since coming to office, President Erdoğan stated: “Today, we will inshallah decorate him with the Order of State for his extraordinary contributions to the Türkiye-Uzbekistan brotherhood. I believe that this important visit, which has a great meaning for us, will further strengthen our cooperation. Before ending my remarks, I wish the Council Meeting may be auspicious for our countries and region as well as for the entire Turkic World. I once again extend my thanks to my august brother Mr. Mirziyoyev and his delegation for their visit. I convey my greetings to all my Uzbek brothers and sisters.”