TURKISTAN, Friday, May 15, 2026 (WNP): President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev on Friday called for deeper unity, stronger digital integration and enhanced cooperation among Turkic states, stressing that the integration of the Turkic world was a long-term strategic priority directly linked to the future of their peoples.

Addressing the informal summit of the Organisation of Turkic States in the Kazakh city of Turkistan, Mirziyoyev thanked President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev for hosting the summit and praised Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev for his efforts in strengthening the international standing of the organization.

He described Turkistan as a historic symbol of unity and solidarity among Turkic peoples and noted the significance of the summit coinciding with the eve of Eid al-Adha.

The Uzbek president said the world was witnessing growing geopolitical tensions, weakening trust in international relations and diminishing influence of global institutions, making stronger dialogue and unified positions among Turkic states increasingly important.

Mirziyoyev said the Organisation of Turkic States had emerged as an influential platform with the combined economic potential of member countries surpassing $2.4 trillion by 2025, while Uzbekistan’s trade turnover with member states had increased by 14 percent last year alone.

Focusing on the summit’s theme of artificial intelligence and digital development, Mirziyoyev highlighted the scientific legacy of Muslim scholars including Muhammad Khwarizmi, Ahmad Fergani, Abu Rayhan Biruni and Mirzo Ulugbek, saying their contributions laid the foundations for modern artificial intelligence and scientific progress.

He proposed establishing a strategic cooperation network on artificial intelligence within the organization to develop cloud and quantum computing technologies and create a unified digital space among Turkic states.

Mirziyoyev also proposed the development of a “Digital Turkic Corridor Concept” to connect regional data centers through high-speed communication networks, noting that Uzbekistan had attracted $6 billion in foreign investment for the establishment of data centers in recent years.

The Uzbek leader announced plans to host a Technology Forum in Tashkent with participation from member states to strengthen cooperation in digital innovation and advanced technologies.

Highlighting the importance of youth and education, Mirziyoyev said Uzbekistan’s Islamic Civilization Center in Tashkent was becoming a major regional educational and research hub. He also welcomed the opening of a TURKSOY office within the complex and proposed creating a unified “big data” platform for the preservation and promotion of Turkic historical and cultural heritage.

He said Uzbekistan was implementing the “5 Million Artificial Intelligence Leaders” program and had already provided foundational AI skills to more than one million young people.

Mirziyoyev invited member states to join a joint venture fund being established with Kazakhstan to support youth startups, innovative projects and AI-based solutions.

On regional connectivity, the Uzbek president stressed the importance of integrating digital logistics systems and noted the launch of the “E-permit” electronic permit system between Uzbekistan and all member states of the organization.

He also emphasized the strategic importance of the Middle Corridor and ongoing efforts to connect it with the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan railway project.

Addressing climate challenges, Mirziyoyev proposed establishing a climate risk monitoring system based on satellite data to monitor droughts, soil erosion and glacier melting while also promoting the use of artificial intelligence in transboundary water management.

He further proposed declaring 2027 as the “Year of Nature Conservation” within the Organisation of Turkic States and invited member states to participate in the Global Environment Facility Assembly and the World Forum on Water Conservation to be held in Samarkand later this year.

Mirziyoyev also stressed the need for stronger cooperation in cybersecurity, counterterrorism and combating extremism, proposing the creation of a “Turkic Alliance for Cybersecurity and Digital Infrastructure Protection.”

The Uzbek president underscored the importance of maintaining ethical and moral standards in the use of artificial intelligence and called for these issues to be discussed at a joint meeting of foreign ministers and heads of special services to be held in Samarkand.

Concluding his address, Mirziyoyev said that if Turkic states united their intellectual potential and creative capabilities, the Turkic world could emerge as a center of advanced solutions and sustainable development.

He expressed confidence that the Turkistan Declaration to be adopted at the summit would further strengthen unity among Turkic nations and advance the goals outlined in the “Turkic World Vision 2040” framework.