UPDATE 3 - Turkish foreign minister stresses strategic cooperation with Uzbekistan

ADDS FOREIGN MINISTRY STATEMENT

By Tugba Altun and Yasin Gungor

ANKARA/ISTANBUL (AA) - Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan emphasized the importance of strengthening and institutionalizing strategic cooperation between Türkiye and Uzbekistan during a meeting Thursday with his Uzbek counterpart, Bakhtiyor Saidov, in Tashkent.

Fidan highlighted the significance of bolstering ties, not only for both countries but also for the wider Turkic world. "There is a great will from our leaders to institutionalize the cooperation and take it further," said Fidan, calling for enhanced collaboration to address modern challenges.

The talks followed the third meeting of the Türkiye-Uzbekistan High-Level Strategic Cooperation Council, held in Ankara in June, which Fidan described as a "historic turning point."

He said the meeting resulted in important decisions aimed at advancing bilateral relations.

- Türkiye, Uzbekistan sign ‘Road Map’ for cooperation

Fidan, along with Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya and National Intelligence Organization Chief Ibrahim Kalin, met their counterparts in the Uzbek capital.

During trilateral meetings, which were held for the first time in the format, discussions focused on regional issues, counter-terrorism, extremism, irregular migration, and smuggling, according to the Turkish Foreign Ministry.

The talks culminated in the signing of a Road Map agreement, a step in institutionalizing cooperation between the two countries.

It outlines steps to enhance political cooperation, parliamentary diplomacy, trade, economy, investment, defense, security and cultural and humanitarian exchanges.

- Cooperation with Uzbekistan continue to grow

The Turkish interior minister met his Uzbek counterpart, Pulat Bobojonov, and discussed strengthening relations between the ministries, with a focus on fighting terrorism, migration management and cooperation between law enforcement agencies.

"Our work and cooperation with our sister country Uzbekistan will continue to grow," said Yerlikaya, expressing Türkiye's commitment to strengthening ties.​​​​​​​

Fidan, Yerlikaya and Kalin were received by Uzbekistan President Shavkat Mirziyoyev.