On 29 January 2026, President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev arrived in Ankara on an official visit at the invitation of President of Türkiye Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.
The main event of the one-day visit was the fourth meeting of the High-Level Strategic Cooperation Council, co-chaired by the two presidents, followed by an expanded meeting of the delegations.
The sides highlighted the symbolic nature of the visit: it takes place on the eve of the sacred month of Ramadan and ahead of the 30th anniversary of the Treaty on Eternal Friendship and Cooperation between Uzbekistan and Türkiye. They emphasized the high dynamism of political dialogue, similarity of positions on most international and regional issues, as well as active interaction within the United Nations, the Organization of Turkic States, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), and the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO).
The economic segment of the talks was among the most substantive. In 2025, bilateral trade exceeded US $3 billion, more than 2,200 joint ventures with Turkish capital are operating, around US $10 billion in investments have been utilized, and a project portfolio worth US $9 billion has been formed. Approximately 100 flights operate weekly between the two countries.
The leaders set the goal of increasing trade turnover to US $5 billion in the coming years — through expanding the range of goods under the Preferential Trade Agreement, launching new industrial cooperation programs, and intensifying interregional collaboration.
By the end of 2026, delegations from all regions of Uzbekistan will visit Türkiye to build a portfolio of joint projects.
Following the meeting, the following were signed:
- Joint Statement by the Presidents;
- Decision on Mechanisms of Cooperation within the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership;
- A large package of intergovernmental and interagency documents, including agreements on cooperation in healthcare, education, military medicine, economy and finance, mining industry, international transport corridors, special economic zones, nuclear safety, migration, and religious affairs;
- Program of Cooperation between the Ministries of Foreign Affairs for 2026–2027;
- Cultural Cooperation Plan for 2026–2027;
- Protocols on the development of light industry and higher education.
The humanitarian and cultural agenda also received a strong boost. The fourth Rectors’ Forum is scheduled for spring 2026 in Bukhara, along with regular theater and film weeks, art exhibitions, joint production of historical films, restoration of cultural heritage sites, and the development of medical and pilgrimage tourism. The governments were instructed to approve a detailed “roadmap” for implementing all agreements.
The visit featured two landmark events. In Hatay Province, a ceremony was held to commission the “Uzbekistan” residential complex — 24 apartment buildings with more than 300 fully equipped apartments constructed by the Uzbek side for families affected by the devastating February 2023 earthquakes. The leaders handed over keys to the new residents.
In Istanbul (Bakırköy district), construction launched on the first Uzbek school abroad — a modern educational institution where children from Uzbek families will be able to study in their native language and preserve national culture and traditions.
Shavkat Mirziyoyev invited Recep Tayyip Erdoğan to pay a return visit to Uzbekistan. Both leaders expressed confidence that the agreements reached will elevate fraternal relations to a new level. /// nCa, 30 January 2026