Speech by the President of Uzbekistan, Shavkat Mirziyoyev, at the Summit of the Organization of Turkic States
Gabala, October 7, 2025
Distinguished Heads of Delegation,
I am sincerely pleased to meet with you, dear friends, in the unique city of Gabala, which since ancient times has been one of the most important trade and cultural centers along the Great Silk Road.
First of all, I would like to express my gratitude to His Excellency, the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Mr. Ilham Heydarovich Aliyev, for hosting this summit at such a high level and for his traditional hospitality.
In recent years, upon Your Excellency’s direct initiative, we have visited many regions of modern Azerbaijan. We have witnessed the rapid improvement of the beautiful Karabakh region and observed the tremendous constructive work underway in the cities of Shusha, Khankendi, and Agdam. As your close friends, we are naturally delighted by these positive developments.
It would not be an exaggeration to say that the Peace Declaration signed with Armenia, thanks to your firm political will, represents a shared victory for the Turkic states. This historic agreement opens up broad opportunities for cooperation in trade, the economy, transportation, and humanitarian fields.
Distinguished colleagues,
I also express my gratitude to His Excellency, the President of the Kyrgyz Republic, Mr. Sadyr Nurgozhoevich Zhaparov, for his effective chairmanship of the Organization throughout the year and his valuable contribution to elevating our cooperation to a new level.
Our meeting today on “Regional Peace and Security” takes place amid complex geopolitical changes and growing global security threats. My colleagues who spoke before me shared their views and proposals on these matters.
At the recent jubilee session of the UN General Assembly in New York, the speeches and approaches of world leaders once again demonstrated the lack of a unified vision regarding the political and security architecture of the modern world.
The times demand deep reform and improvement of the global governance system, along with strengthening the role of the UN and its Security Council. In particular, enhancing cooperation to amplify the voice and representation of developing countries is of central importance.
The world’s most painful problems — protracted conflicts and wars across the Eurasian continent — inevitably affect our nations as well.
We are deeply concerned by the tragedy unfolding in the Gaza Strip, the situation around Ukraine, issues related to Iran’s nuclear program, and stability challenges in Afghanistan.
We welcome the efforts and new plans of major world powers aimed at creating a just world order and ensuring mutual trust and security.
I believe that, in order to deeply analyze the global situation and take necessary decisions, it is time to hold joint meetings of foreign ministers and heads of security services of the Turkic States Organization. We propose holding the first such meeting next year in Samarkand.
Distinguished Heads of Delegation,
Analysis clearly shows that in a short period, the Organization of Turkic States has become a rapidly developing and respected international institution. This is reflected in the growing political dialogue at the highest level, strengthening mutual trust, and active implementation of practical cooperative projects and humanitarian programs.
Let me highlight just one example: today, practical cooperation within our Organization is carried out in more than thirty-five areas. Mutual trade among our countries continues to grow and is expected to double by 2030.
Allow me to address several agenda items.
Our priority goal is to further strengthen the authority and capacity of the Organization and, in the near future, enhance its role as an effective platform for cooperation.
In this regard, we support the swift adoption of the Treaty on Strategic Partnership, Eternal Friendship, and Brotherhood among the Turkic States. As the main political document guiding our cooperation, this important treaty will serve as a solid foundation for bringing our brotherly nations closer together and raising practical cooperation to a new level.
To further expand and accelerate our multidimensional partnership, we propose developing the Organization’s Development Strategy until 2030 and a separate Roadmap. These should include the following key areas:
First, the development of trade and economic relations and the deepening of industrial cooperation remain our core focus.
We advocate establishing, within the Organization, a Space of New Economic Opportunities to create favorable conditions, a legal framework, and infrastructure for trade, business, and mutual investment.
To promote practical cooperation and develop concrete projects — including coordination within the Turkic Investment Fund — the time has come to establish a Permanent Council for Economic Partnership of the Turkic States, chaired by deputy prime ministers and functioning on an ongoing basis. We are ready to host the Council’s Project Office in Tashkent.
Under this Council, several new initiatives may be implemented, including:
— Establishing a Turkic States Industrial Alliance to support joint projects in machinery, mining, electrical engineering, petrochemicals, pharmaceuticals, light and food industries, and construction materials;
— Implementing a “Turkic Green Corridors” electronic system to boost trade and harmonize technical regulations;
— Creating a “Green Transformation” Consortium for joint renewable energy, green hydrogen, and ammonia projects, attracting advanced technologies, standards, and implementing public-private partnerships;
— Developing a joint mineral resource base and high value-added industries.
It is important to adopt a practical cooperation program based on the principle “raw materials – processing – science and technology – final product”.
Second, our countries have the potential to become global leaders in the production and export of organic agricultural products.
According to FAO analysis, the global organic food market exceeds 225 billion USD and is expected to grow by 10% annually.
Given our countries’ potential, we must strengthen scientific research, crop breeding, industrial cooperation, and logistics in this sector.
In the future, our organic products could enter world markets under a common brand. We therefore propose creating an Expert Working Group under the supervision of agricultural ministers, selecting initial pilot projects, and implementing them.
Third, we deeply understand the importance of strengthening transport connectivity and coordinating joint policies in developing international transit corridors.
We fully support the consistent development of the Middle Corridor. Competitiveness must be the key criterion, and the corridor must provide the most favorable conditions for the business community.
We attach great importance to optimal transit tariffs, modern transport infrastructure projects, and digital customs procedures.
I emphasize that linking the Middle Corridor with the China–Kyrgyzstan–Uzbekistan railway and the future Trans-Afghan Corridor will create a large, strategic, multi-sectoral transport network in our region.
I am confident that all transport-related initiatives will be comprehensively discussed at the International Forum on Multimodal Transport to be held in Tashkent on November 12. We expect active participation from national delegations, including transport ministers, major logistics companies, and experts.
Fourth, the implementation of major industrial and infrastructure projects requires effective financial instruments.
We strongly support expanding the activities of the Turkic Investment Fund. Additionally, to attract further resources to priority projects, we propose adopting a Strategic Cooperation Program with the Islamic Development Bank, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, and other international and national development institutions.
Fifth, artificial intelligence, digitalization, and the creative economy are becoming key drivers of sustainable development.
We propose adopting a “Roadmap for the Implementation of AI and Creative Economy Projects” and organizing the International Exhibition of the Turkic World in Uzbekistan.
Sixth, elevating cooperation in science and education requires the principle “Enlightenment against ignorance”.
Uzbekistan will chair the Union of Turkic Universities in 2025–2026, which unites more than 100 universities. Its General Assembly will take place next week in Tashkent.
During our chairmanship, we will propose organizing the Days of Turkic Science and Innovation.
To strengthen cooperation in this field, the International University of the Turkic States is beginning its work in Uzbekistan. It is advisable to develop a Joint Research Support Program based on this university.
Seventh, to prevent the spread of extremist and radical ideologies among our youth, I propose adopting an Action Plan to combat these threats across the Turkic States.
We will also continue close dialogue focused on combating all forms of Islamophobia.
Additionally, developing joint measures on environmental education for youth will be an important step.
I would like to draw your attention to one more issue. Next year, we will widely celebrate the 585th anniversary of the great poet and thinker Alisher Navoi and the 885th anniversary of the great Azerbaijani poet Nizami Ganjavi.
To further promote their ideas of humanism, friendship, and brotherhood, and their invaluable literary legacy, we propose holding an international scholarly conference titled:
“The Legacy of Nizami Ganjavi and Alisher Navoi in the Spiritual Life of the Turkic World.”
Distinguished Heads of Delegation,
In conclusion, I wish great success to the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, His Excellency Ilham Heydarovich Aliyev, as he assumes the chairmanship of our Organization.
I am confident that the Gabala Declaration adopted today will contribute to the implementation of our jointly promoted noble initiatives and plans, and will play an important role in the continued development of our countries and the prosperity of our brotherly nations.
Thank you for your attention.
