Turkic leaders gather in Ankara for 13th summit

ANKARA

Leaders of the Organization of Turkic States (OTS) are due to meet in Ankara on Oct. 30, with Türkiye set to take over the group’s chairmanship from Azerbaijan.

Hosted by President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, the organization’s 13th summit carries the theme “Turkic Century: Unity in Language, Thought and Deed.”

Trade and investment, transport links, energy, digital transformation and political cooperation are among the priorities, alongside regional and international developments, the OTS said.

Leaders are expected to adopt the Ankara Declaration and discuss the appointment of a new secretary-general, as well as measures to strengthen the organization and advance cooperation under its Turkic World Vision 2040.

Ahead of the summit, Erdoğan met Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev on Oct. 29 to discuss bilateral relations and regional issues.

Erdoğan said Türkiye would pursue closer cooperation in trade, investment, mining, transport and the defense industry.

Türkiye and Uzbekistan signed five agreements on trade, social security and business cooperation following talks between the two presidents.

Later that day, Erdoğan and first lady Emine Erdoğan hosted visiting leaders and their spouses at a formal dinner marking the republic’s 103rd anniversary.

Erdoğan said he believed the Turkic world would move forward in “full solidarity and mutual respect and brotherhood” and work to make the coming period the “Turkic century.”

At the dinner, Erdoğan presented Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov with the Supreme Order of the Turkic World.

Japarov said the award recognized the Kyrgyz people’s contribution to unity and cooperation among Turkic states.

Founded in 2009 as the Turkic Council, the organization adopted its current name at its Istanbul summit in 2021. Its members are Türkiye, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan.

Hungary, Turkmenistan and the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus hold observer status, as does the Economic Cooperation Organization.