President Shavkat Mirziyoyev put forward a series of digital development initiatives for the Turkic world at the informal summit of the Organization of Turkic States (OTS), held in Turkistan, Kazakhstan, on Friday. The summit focused on the theme of "Artificial Intelligence and Digital Development."
Noting the escalation of geopolitical tensions globally, the president emphasized the critical need to intensify dialogue and establish unified positions on key issues within the OTS framework. "The integration of the Turkic world is a long-term strategic priority that directly impacts the destinies of our peoples," he stressed.
The summit was attended by Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, and OTS Secretary General Kubanychbek Omuraliev.
Initiatives Proposed by Uzbekistan
Establishing an OTS Strategic Cooperation Network for Artificial Intelligence: This initiative aims to unlock new avenues for economic growth, advance cloud and quantum computing technologies, and build an open, modern, and unified digital landscape. Specifically, Uzbekistan proposed developing a "Digital Turkic Corridor" concept to link regional data centers through high-speed communication channels.
Deepening Cooperation in Science, Education, and Youth Development: The president proposed bringing together the Center for Islamic Civilization in Tashkent, the International Organization of Turkic Culture (TURKSOY), and the Turkic Academy to centralize historical and cultural resources on a single Big Data platform.
Promoting Tolerance and Enlightenment: He advocated for the in-depth study and widespread promotion of the tolerant and enlightened philosophies of the Khoja Ahmad Yassaviy order.
Funding Innovation: To finance promising youth startups, innovative research, and AI-driven solutions, Shavkat Mirziyoyev invited OTS member states to join a collaborative venture capital fund established by Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan.
Building and Integrating Digital Logistics Platforms: This initiative aims to boost transport connectivity across the region. Uzbekistan proposed linking the Middle Corridor with the under-construction China–Kyrgyzstan–Uzbekistan railway. It also called for a simplified customs corridor to streamline border-crossing and transit procedures.
Coordinating Climate and Environmental Action: Addressing the region's complex environmental challenges and climate change, Uzbekistan advocated for an OTS satellite-based climate risk monitoring system. This network would track soil degradation, melting glaciers, and give early warnings for droughts, while deploying AI to manage transboundary water resources. President Mirziyoyev proposed declaring 2027 the OTS Year of Nature Protection.
Strengthening Law Enforcement and Cybersecurity Cooperation: The president emphasized the urgency of joint actions against terrorism, extremism, and radical ideologies. He underscored the need to expand cybersecurity cooperation, train next-generation specialists, and enable real-time information sharing.
"We must establish a unified space of security and trust within the Turkic world to identify and preempt emerging threats," Mirziyoyev stated. To achieve this, he proposed creating a Turkic Alliance for Cybersecurity and Digital Infrastructure Protection, while emphasizing the critical importance of strict ethical standards in AI development.
"If we can unite the intellectual power and creative energy of our nations in this new era, the Turkic world will undoubtedly become a hub for progressive solutions and sustainable growth," the president declared.
The summit concluded with the adoption of the Turkistan Declaration. President Mirziyoyev expressed confidence that the accord will further solidify the brotherhood among OTS nations and accelerate the goals of the "Turkic World Vision 2040."
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