President Of Uzbekistan Arrives In Turkey For 4th High-Level Strategic Cooperation Council – OpEd
On January 29, President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev arrived in Türkiye for an official visit at the invitation of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, as Ankara hosts the fourth meeting of the Türkiye–Uzbekistan High-Level Strategic Cooperation Council. The visit comes at a time when bilateral relations are gaining new momentum, supported by political trust, growing economic ties, and a shared regional vision.
The council meeting, co-chaired by the two presidents, has become a central mechanism for developing bilateral relations across key areas, including trade, investment, education, energy, transport, and defense. Officials from both sides are expected to review progress and sign a substantial package of agreements following the talks. Several humanitarian and cultural events are also planned during the visit, demonstrating the growing people-to-people dimension of relations.
Talking about the Türkiye–Uzbekistan High-Level Strategic Cooperation Council, the council was established in 2018. The inaugural meeting took place in 2020 in Ankara, where both leaders successfully laid the foundation of the council’s framework and prioritized mutual diplomatic growth. The second summit was held on March 29–30, 2022, in Tashkent, and the meeting marked a significant elevation of bilateral relations to the level of a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. By the third meeting, which took place in June 2024 in Ankara, Uzbekistan and Türkiye achieved tangible results through the signing of nineteen bilateral documents, and the countries set a goal of reaching a USD 5 billion trade turnover. The upcoming visit of the Uzbek President to Türkiye aims to further strengthen bilateral relations through advancing political dialogue, increasing trade turnover, promoting cooperation projects in priority sectors of the economy, and strengthening transport connectivity while continuing active cultural and humanitarian exchanges and discussing recently held First Meeting of 4+4 Mechanism.
The “4+4 format” between Türkiye and Uzbekistan is a new high-level strategic dialogue mechanism involving four key officials from each country, the Foreign Minister, Defense Minister, Interior Minister, and the head of intelligence, who meet together on January 20, 2026 to coordinate on security, defense, and diplomacy, moving beyond standard diplomatic talks to address regional challenges with an action plan for future cooperation.
The strategic relationship between Türkiye and Uzbekistan is already producing visible results. According to the National Committee of the Republic of Uzbekistan on Statistics, as of January 2026, there are more than 2,100 enterprises with Turkish capital operating across all regions of Uzbekistan, the Republic of Karakalpakstan, and the capital, Tashkent. Moreover, Türkiye is one of the top trade partners of Uzbekistan, with trade turnover exceeding USD 3 billion in 2025.
Education and culture also remain central pillars of the partnership. During the visit, officials are expected to attend the opening ceremony of the first Uzbek school to be established abroad. Moreover, the number of students from Uzbekistan pursuing their education in Türkiye has increased rapidly over the last several years. As of October 2025, there are over 2,200 Uzbek students in Türkiye. Tourism is also one of the fastest-growing pillars of bilateral partnership. In 2025, nearly 175,000 Turkish citizens visited Uzbekistan, while close to 270,000 Uzbek citizens traveled to Türkiye. Tourism, cultural exchanges, and humanitarian cooperation continue to strengthen people-to-people ties between the two countries.
Uzbekistan and Türkiye are also members of several international and regional organizations, including the United Nations, the Organization of Turkic States, the Organization for Islamic Cooperation, and the Economic Cooperation Organization. Recently, both countries joined the Board of Peace as founding members, demonstrating a shared vision for cooperation and regional stability.
As the two countries engage in high-level talks in Ankara, the visit demonstrates more than a usual diplomatic exchange. It reflects the steady institutionalization of bilateral ties, shaped by shared historical connections, internal reforms, and sustained political commitment. Taken together, these factors point to a long-term strategic partnership that is increasingly forward-looking, pragmatic, and grounded in mutual interests.
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