Deputy Director of the Institute for Strategic and Regional Studies under the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan (ISRS) Bakhtiyor Mustafayev, as part of the Uzbek delegation, was in Istanbul to participate in the 28th Eurasian Economic Summit, which was held on May 7-8 of this year.

During their stay in Turkiye, the delegation also met with Akkan Suver, President of the Marmara Group Strategic and Social Research Foundation. It should be noted that cooperation between ISRS and Marmara Group has been actively developing since 2018 based on the signed Memorandum of Understanding.

In addition, negotiations were held with the rector of Istanbul Sabahattin Zaim University Ahmet Cevat, as well as with Uzbek students studying at this educational institution. The university, founded in 2010 and named after the outstanding Turkish scientist, offers a wide range of educational programs, including 36 bachelor's, 57 master's and 20 doctoral programs. Currently, about 11 thousand students are studying at the university.

During the conversations, the parties discussed issues of further deepening multifaceted Uzbek-Turkish cooperation, including interaction between scientific and analytical organizations of both countries.

Particular attention was paid to the analysis of the development of Uzbek-Turkish relations. It was emphasized that the establishment of a close and trusting dialogue between the leaders of Uzbekistan and Turkiye became a key factor that allowed interstate relations to be brought to a new level of comprehensive strategic partnership.

The interlocutors noted with great satisfaction the dynamic development of bilateral relations. Since 2016, there has been a rapid growth in trade turnover, which has increased threefold and exceeded the mark of 3 billion dollars. Currently, about 2 thousand well-known Turkish companies, such as Eczacıbaşı (industry), Çalık Holding (textiles, energy, construction, logistics and media), Cengiz Enerji (energy), Rönesans Holding (construction, energy and healthcare) and many others, are successfully operating in Uzbekistan.

Cultural and humanitarian ties between the countries are also actively developing. A faculty was created at the Bukhara State Medical Institute together with the Turkish University of Medical Sciences, and a branch of the Turkish University of Economics and Technology was opened in Tashkent.

Following the meetings, the parties expressed mutual interest in further expanding scientific and analytical cooperation and academic exchanges. The willingness to consistently strengthen sustainable and long-term partnership relations between Uzbekistan and Turkiye was emphasized.