Address by the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev at the informal summit of the Organisation of Turkic States

Esteemed Heads of Delegations!

Distinguished Summit Participants!

First and foremost, I would like to express my sincere gratitude to the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan, His Excellency Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, for the initiative to hold the informal dialogue of the Organization of Turkic States in the ancient and eternally young city of Turkistan, and for the high respect and traditional hospitality extended to all of us.

I would also like to convey my heartfelt appreciation to the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, His Excellency Ilham Aliyev, for his fruitful chairmanship, who is making great efforts to strengthen the international standing of our Organization.

It is deeply symbolic that today’s summit coincides with the eve of a blessed holiday for the Muslim Ummah - Eid al-Adha.

Indeed, we share an ancient history, a sacred religion, common cultural and spiritual roots, as well as, long-standing values and traditions.

The beautiful city of Turkistan was an important trade and cultural center on the Great Silk Road. On this land, our great ancestor, Khoja Ahmad Yassaviy, found eternal rest.

Above all, this sacred city is a vivid symbol of the unity and solidarity of our peoples.

I would like to express my deepest gratitude to H.E. President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev for his sincere remarks regarding the grand mosque, which was built as a gift of friendship from our people to the brotherly people of Kazakhstan.

The immense creative work of the leadership of Kazakhstan, aimed at fundamentally transforming the architectural appearance of Turkistan, will undoubtedly turn this picturesque site into a common spiritual center for our fraternal peoples.

Distinguished participants of the Summit!

Our meeting today is taking place at a time when tensions are escalating around the world. Trust in international relations is waning, and the role and influence of global institutions are increasingly weakening.

These challenges require us to intensify our dialogue and develop unified positions on critical issues. From this perspective, the integration of the Turkic world is a long-term strategic matter that directly affects the destiny of our peoples.

In recent years, the Organization of Turkic States has evolved into an influential structure demonstrating a stable pace of development. For instance, the economic potential of our countries exceeded $2.4 trillion by 2025 and its dynamic is twice the rate of global growth.

Last year alone, Uzbekistan’s trade turnover with Organization member countries increased by 14 percent.

The Turkic Investment Fund commenced its operational activities this year, as did the Council of Central Banks and the Turkic Council on Green Finance. All of this clearly shows growing institutional strength of our Organization.

Dear friends!

We face the urgent task of systematizing our multifaceted relations.

It is no coincidence that today's summit is dedicated to the theme of "Artificial Intelligence and Digital Development".

The great ancestors who lived and worked in our lands - Muhammad Khwarizmi, Ahmad Fergani, Abu Rayhan Biruni, and Mirzo Ulugbek – made an invaluable contribution to the development of algorithms, mathematics, astronomy, and physics, thereby laying the foundation for the development of modern artificial intelligence.

Building upon this precious heritage, we are today ushering in a new era of digital progress for the Turkic world.

I would like to put forward a number of initiatives to develop cooperation in this direction.

First, establishing a network for strategic cooperation in the field of artificial intelligence within our Organization is today’s requirement.

This effective mechanism will enable us to identify new drivers of economic growth, develop cloud and quantum computing technologies, and create a single, open, and modern digital space.

In recent years, Uzbekistan has attracted $6 billion in investments from foreign partners to establish data centers.

We propose to develop the “Digital Turkic Corridor Concept” to connect the region’s data centers via high-speed communication channels.

In order to further strengthen our practical ties in this area, we plan to hold a Technology Forum in Tashkent with the participation of member states.

Second, our common goal is to deepen cooperation in science, education, and youth issues.

The Islamic Civilization Center, which was established in Tashkent to study and promote scientific and spiritual heritage, is becoming a major regional research and educational center.

We welcome the recent opening of a TURKSOY office within the complex.

It would be beneficial for our peoples if the Center, together with TURKSOY and the Turkic Academy, brought together our historical and cultural resources to create a single "big data" platform.

At the same time, we propose jointly studying and widely promoting the ideas of tolerance and enlightenment of the Yasawiyya order.

As you are aware, the city of Khiva was granted the status of "Youth Capital of the Turkic World" this year. This decision has been a powerful source of motivation, especially for our young sons and daughters. As part of the events, we stand ready to host the Forum of Young Leaders and the International Youth Festival.

It should be noted that we are implementing the “5 Million Artificial Intelligence Leaders” program to train personnel who can meet the demands of our rapidly changing times. To date, over one million young people have acquired foundational skills through this project.

We invite all members of the Organization to join the Joint Venture Fund that we are establishing with Kazakhstan to finance promising youth start-ups, innovative developments, and various AI-based solutions.

Third, creating and integrating digital logistics platforms to improve transport connectivity is important.

In this regard, I am pleased to note the full launch of the "E-permit" electronic permit system between Uzbekistan and all member states of the Organization.

Given the strategic role of the Middle Corridor, we are paying great attention to integrate it with the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan railway, which is currently under construction.

We must implement the signed Agreement on the Simplified Customs Corridor to facilitate customs and transit at the borders, and fully digitalize data exchange.

This will enable data transmission, cargo tracking, and the streamlined organization of processes along logistics chains.

Fourth, environmental challenges and climate change demand coordinated action from our states.

To find effective solutions to such problems, it is important to establish a climate risk monitoring system for the Organization of Turkic States based on satellite data.

This system should focus on the early detection of droughts, the monitoring of soil erosion and glacier melting, as well as the introduction of artificial intelligence in the field of transboundary water resource management.

The Central Asian University of Environmental and Climate Change Studies in Tashkent has allocated 50 grants to young people from Turkic states for the 2026-2027 academic year. We encourage our youth to take advantage of this opportunity.

To further strengthen the focus on environmental issues, we propose declaring 2027 as the "Year of Nature Conservation" within the framework of our Organization.

Taking this opportunity, I call upon you to actively participate in the Global Environment Facility Assembly and the World Forum on Water Conservation, which will be held this year in Samarkand.

Another important issue. We are committed to strengthening cooperation among law enforcement agencies in the fight against terrorism, extremism, and harmful ideologies.

To this end, it is essential to expand ties in the field of cybersecurity, train modern specialists, and facilitate the swift exchange of information.

To identify and prevent new threats, we must create a unified space of security and trust within the Turkic world.

In this regard, I propose the establishment of a common mechanism – the Turkic Alliance for Cybersecurity and Digital Infrastructure Protection.

It is also particularly important that we adhere strictly to ethical and moral standards when using artificial intelligence.

These issues should be given special attention at the joint meeting of the Organization's foreign ministers and heads of special services, to be held in Samarkand this year.

Dear friends!

The following lines from "Devoni Hikmat" by our great ancestor Ahmad Yasawi, which emphasize unity and harmony, resonate even more profoundly today:

I showed affection for the Turkic people,

I considered the path of unity to be true.

If we can unite the intellectual potential and creative power of our states in this new era, the Turkic world will undoubtedly become a space of advanced solutions and sustainable development.

Our main goal is not only to pass on our great history to our children, but also to leave an invaluable legacy that future generations can be proud of.

I am confident that the Turkistan Declaration to be adopted today will further strengthen the noble aspirations of our peoples, whose languages and hearts are intertwined, and will be another important step towards achieving the ambitious goals set out in the "Turkic World Vision 2040" concept.