Turkey, Uzbekistan look to boost ties ‘in all areas’

ANKARA – Anadolu Agency

Turkey is working with Uzbekistan to enhance bilateral ties in all areas, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has said.

“We discussed all topics related to Turkey-Uzbekistan - politics, military, economy, trade, culture, the defense industry - and what we can do in the process after this,” Erodğan said at a joint news conference with his Uzbek counterpart Shavkat Mirziyoyev in capital Tashkent.

“We found the opportunity to discuss these,” he said.

“In our meeting today, we have taken steps to strengthen the infrastructure of our strategic partnership.”

The presidents signed agreements comprising 25 items, which Erdoğan regarded as “a beginning of a long journey for Turkey and Uzbekistan.”

The meeting of the Turkey-Uzbekistan High-Level Strategic Cooperation Council will be held annually, the first of which will be held in Turkey, Erdoğan said.

The Turkish president said Turkey remains determined to boost bilateral ties “from economy to the defense industry, education to culture, environment to energy, agriculture to tourism, in all areas.”

He also “welcomed” the developments in economic relations, saying the trade volume between the two countries went up by 20 percent in the first quarter of the year.

Erdoğan also said the Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TIKA) aims to invest $60 million in Uzbekistan.

Mirziyoyev said he was pleased their views were “the same.”

He added that views to establish peace and stability in Afghanistan were also exchanged between the presidents; he also condemned international terror.