Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev met in Ankara on Thursday and witnessed the signing of five bilateral agreements aimed at expanding cooperation across key economic and institutional sectors, Türkiye’s Communications Directorate said.
The leaders held talks at the Presidential Complex on bilateral relations as well as regional and global developments, with Erdogan stressing that Türkiye and Uzbekistan would continue to advance their high-level strategic partnership.
He highlighted trade, investment, mining, transport and the defence industry as priority areas for further cooperation, according to an official statement.
Five agreements target trade and economic cooperation
Following the meeting, the presidents attended a signing ceremony for five agreements and protocols covering trade, social security, transport, business relations and broader bilateral cooperation, according to the Turkish Presidency.
The agreements include an additional protocol amending a 2022 arrangement on exchanging information about vehicles and goods crossing the two countries’ borders, as well as a protocol amending the preferential trade agreement between Türkiye and Uzbekistan.
The two sides also signed a bilateral social security agreement and an administrative arrangement governing its implementation. The fifth agreement establishes a High-Level Council on Enhancing the Business Community.
The measures are intended to strengthen practical cooperation between the two countries and provide a framework for closer engagement between their governments and business communities.
Leaders highlight Turkic cooperation and COP31
Erdogan also expressed confidence that the Organisation of Turkic States (OTS) would continue to grow stronger through new cooperation initiatives.
He said he hoped the OTS leaders’ summit taking place in Ankara, attended by both presidents, would mark an important milestone in advancing cooperation among Turkic countries.
Erdogan also invited Mirziyoyev to the leaders’ summit of the COP31 UN Climate Change Conference, scheduled for November 11-12 in Antalya, southern Türkiye.
The meeting underscored Ankara and Tashkent’s commitment to strengthening their strategic partnership while expanding economic links and cooperation within the wider Turkic world.
