15.05.2026

On May 15, President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev took part in the informal summit of the Organization of Turkic States held under the theme “Artificial Intelligence and Digital Development.”

The summit in the city of Turkestan was also attended by President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev, President of the Republic of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, President of the Kyrgyz Republic Sadyr Japarov, President of the Republic of Türkiye Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, and OTS Secretary General Kubanychbek Omuraliev.

The leaders exchanged views on the summit agenda and discussed the current state of multifaceted cooperation and priority areas for practical partnership in detail.

At the beginning of his address, the President of Uzbekistan expressed gratitude to President of the Republic of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev for the high-level organization of the informal summit in Turkestan, an important trade and cultural center of the Great Silk Road.

He also commended President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev for his effective chairmanship of the OTS and his efforts to strengthen the organization’s international standing.

It was noted that the integration of the Turkic world is a long-term strategic issue that directly affects the destinies of our fraternal peoples.

“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,” President of Uzbekistan said.

In recent years, the Organization of Turkic States has become an influential structure demonstrating sustainable development rates. For example, in 2025, the combined economic potential of our countries exceeded $2.4 trillion, while its growth dynamics were twice the global average.

Over the past year alone, Uzbekistan’s trade turnover with the Organization’s member states increased by 14 percent. The Turkic Investment Fund began operations this year, while the Council of Central Banks and the Turkic Green Finance Council were also launched.

The President of Uzbekistan emphasized that there is an urgent need to give multifaceted relations a more systemic character. Moreover, it is no coincidence that the summit is dedicated to artificial intelligence and digital development.

“Our great ancestors – 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 modern artificial intelligence. Building upon this priceless heritage, we are today creating a new era of digital development for the Turkic world,” Shavkat Mirziyoyev said.

In his address, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev put forward a number of specific initiatives aimed at developing cooperation in this area.

The Leader of Uzbekistan emphasized the need to establish a network of strategic cooperation in the field of artificial intelligence within the Organization, taking into account global technological trends. This initiative will help identify new points of economic growth through the development of quantum computing technologies and the creation of a unified digital space.

It was also proposed to develop the concept of a “Digital Turkic Corridor” to ensure regional data exchange and to hold a Technology Forum in Tashkent with the participation of OTS member states.

The Center for Islamic Civilization, established in Tashkent for the in-depth study and promotion of our shared scientific and spiritual heritage, is becoming a major regional scientific and educational center. A TURKSOY office has recently been opened within the complex.

“It would be beneficial for our peoples if the Center, together with TURKSOY and the Turkic Academy, brought together historical and cultural resources on a single big data platform,” the Head of State said.

It was also proposed to organize an in-depth study and broad dissemination of the ideas of tolerance and enlightenment of the Yasawi order.

Uzbekistan’s “Five Million AI Leaders” program, aimed at preparing the younger generation for modern professions, is highly praised. To finance youth startup projects, the President of Uzbekistan called on all member states to join the joint venture fund being established by Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan.

Satisfaction was expressed with the full implementation of the “E-Permit” electronic permit system among member states to simplify freight transportation procedures. Practical tasks were identified for connecting the strategically important Middle Corridor with the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan railway currently under construction, as well as for the full digitalization of customs data exchange.

In order to organize coordinated efforts to counter climate change, an initiative was put forward to declare 2027 the “Year of Nature Conservation” in the Turkic World.

The need to establish a climate risk monitoring system under the OTS based on satellite data was also emphasized, along with the introduction of artificial intelligence technologies for early drought detection and transboundary water resource management.

The President of Uzbekistan put forward a proposal to establish a Turkic Alliance for Cybersecurity and Digital Infrastructure Protection in order to create a solid legal and technological basis for combating terrorism, extremism, and cyber threats.

Concluding his address, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev noted that the combination of intellectual potential and unity can transform the Turkic world into a space of sustainable development and advanced solutions.

Following the summit, the Turkestan Declaration was adopted.