“We will put the Turkic world’s stamp on our century”
Holding a joint press conference with President Mirziyoyev of Uzbekistan, President Erdoğan said: “As Ismail Bey Gaspirali pointed out, we will walk towards the goal of ‘unity in language, work and opinion’ with firm steps. As long as our hearts beat together, we are confident that we, with Allah’s permission, will put the Turkic world’s stamp on our century.”
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and President Shavkat Mirziyoyev of Uzbekistan held a joint press conference following their meeting at the Presidential Complex.
“TÜRKİYE IS DETERMINED TO DO ITS UTMOST TO CONTRIBUTE TO THE PROSPERITY OF BOTH UZBEKISTAN AND CENTRAL ASIA”
Noting that 2026 marks the 30th anniversary of the Eternal Friendship and Cooperation Agreement between Türkiye and Uzbekistan, President Erdoğan said: “The brotherly Uzbekistan, under the wise and strong leadership of Mr. Mirziyoyev and with its state tradition, plays a pioneering role in the regional integration of the Central Asia. We take great pleasure in closely witnessing Uzbekistan’s increasingly rising star in the international arena and sincerely support it. Constantly enhancing the solidarity between our countries, we elevated it to the comprehensive strategic partnership level. With the documents we have just signed, we have determined the roadmap for the period ahead. Our institutions of both countries are working in cooperation to achieve all our shared political, economic, cultural, human, and regional objectives.”
Stating that Türkiye and Uzbekistan have tripled their bilateral trade volume over the past 10 years, and that he believes they will soon reach their new target of 5 billion dollars as well, President Erdoğan stated: “We are pleased to witness that a major reconstruction process has started in the Uzbekistani economy under the leadership of my brother Shavkat. Turkish companies, with their investments worth over five billion dollars, rank among the top three investors in Uzbekistan. We will inshallah reach much better levels. Türkiye is determined to do its utmost to contribute to the prosperity of both Uzbekistan and the Central Asia, our fatherland.”
“UZBEKISTAN DISPLAYED A PRINCIPLED STANCE REGARDING ISRAEL’S ATTACKS ON GAZA”
Stressing that Türkiye and Uzbekistan are in close cooperation at the Organization of Turkic States (OTS) as well, which he described as a “family assembly”, President Erdoğan stated: “My brother Shavkat significantly contributed to the designation of December 15 as the World Turkic Language Family Day during UNESCO’s 43rd General Conference in November last year in Samarkand. I hereby would like to thank him once more. As Ismail Bey Gaspirali—whom the late great Uzbek poet Abdulhamid Sulaymon o'g'li Chulpon referred to as ‘the master that awakened us‘,—pointed out, we will walk towards the goal of ‘unity in language, work and opinion’ with firm steps. As long as our hearts beat together, we are confident that we, with Allah’s permission, will put the Turkic world’s stamp on our century. In my brother Shavkat’s presence, I also would like to openly state that Uzbekistan displayed a principled stance regarding Israel’s attacks on Gaza and other Palestinian territories under occupation. I would like to once again congratulate through Mr. President my Uzbekistani brothers and sisters, who courageously stood by the oppressed at a time when our humanity was tested once more. I also appreciate my brother Shavkat’s decision to establish a social services fund for the Palestinians in Uzbekistan.”
“UZBEKISTAN WAS AMONG THE FIRST COUNTRIES TO COME TO OUR AID DURING THE 6 FEBRUARY EARTHQUAKES”
President Erdoğan continued his remarks as follows: “Uzbekistan was among the first countries to come to our aid during the 6 February earthquakes, in which we lost more than 53,000 of our citizens. We know very well how our Uzbek brothers and sisters mobilized for our nation as soon as they learned of the disaster. The Organization of Turkic States designated February 6 as the Day of Remembrance of Victims and Solidarity upon Uzbekistan’s proposal during the extraordinary OIC summit in 2023. That was not all for Uzbekistan. It also took on the construction of 308 housing units in a TOKI project comprised of 3,093 homes in the Arsuz district of Hatay. We are very happy to see the inclusion of an Uzbek neighborhood, which is a lasting indication of our eternal brotherhood, in this project. In a short while, we, with Mr. Mirziyoyev, will hold the delivery ceremony of these houses via video conference. With my brother Shavkat, we will present our families, who are here today to share the joy of the quake victims, with the keys of their new homes. I hope their new homes will bring felicity to them.”
President Erdoğan added: “Of course, not limiting ourselves to these alone, we will also hold the stone-laying ceremony of the Uzbek School via video conference before connecting to Hatay. We are particularly pleased since Uzbekistan chose Istanbul as the location of its-first ever overseas school. I hope the stone-laying ceremony will lead to auspicious developments and wish success to its future student. I would like to once again thank the people of Uzbekistan and particularly Mr. Mirziyoyev for the solidarity they displayed during our country’s most difficult days.”
