ANKARA: Turkiye’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Wednesday and his Uzbekistan counterpart Shavkat Mirziyoyev spoke on the phone and discussed bilateral relations along with regional and global matters.
During the conversations, Erdogan also congratulated President Mirziyoyev on his 67th birthday, the Turkish Presidency’s Directorate of Communications said in a statement.
During the call, Erdogan expressed confidence that the relations between Turkey and Uzbekistan would progress to new heights, both bilaterally and within multilateral frameworks like the Organization of Turkic States (OTS).
Last month, Erdogan hosted Mirziyoyev in Ankara, emphasizing the cultural affinity that binds the two nations as members of the OTS.
Turkiye was the first nation to recognize Uzbekistan’s independence in 1991 following the dissolution of the Soviet Union.
Under the leadership of then-President Turgut Özal, Ankara actively sought closer ties with Turkic-speaking Central Asian countries, including Uzbekistan.
READ ALSO: Israeli Shelling in Gaza Humanitarian Zone Kills 16, Evacuation Ordered
Despite political challenges over subsequent decades, relations took a positive turn after Erdogan’s visit to Uzbekistan in 2016.
Mirziyoyev reciprocated by visiting Turkey in 2017, marking the first official visit by a sitting Uzbek president in 21 years and revitalizing bilateral relations.
Uzbekistan, with its strategic location, historical significance, rich cultural heritage, and economic potential, holds substantial importance in the region.
