SEOUL, January 26 (AJP) - Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev will travel to Türkiye on January 29 for an official visit centered on deepening bilateral strategic ties and inaugurating housing projects for earthquake survivors, the Embassy of Uzbekistan in the Republic of Korea said Monday. The visit includes the fourth meeting of the Supreme Council for Strategic Cooperation, an institutional platform designed to coordinate high-level policy between the two nations.
During his stay, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev is scheduled to participate in an online ceremony to open residential complexes in the Arsuz district of Hatay Province. These facilities were constructed by Uzbekistan to support communities displaced by the powerful earthquakes that struck southeastern Türkiye in February 2023. The Arsuz and Gaziantep regions were among the most severely impacted areas, suffering widespread destruction of social and industrial infrastructure.
The residential project in Arsuz was funded by the Uzbek government and provided to Turkish citizens free of charge. This follows immediate relief efforts in 2023, during which specialized units from the Ministry of Emergency Situations of Uzbekistan and medical brigades were deployed to assist in search-and-rescue operations.
Political and economic relations between the two countries have expanded since the establishment of a strategic partnership in 2017. The Supreme Council for Strategic Cooperation, established in 2018 and co-chaired by the presidents of both nations, serves as the primary mechanism for bilateral dialogue. Previous sessions were held in Ankara in 2020 and 2024, and in Tashkent in 2022.
Economic data indicates steady growth in trade, which reached approximately 3 billion USD by the end of 2025. This growth has been supported by a Preferential Trade Agreement signed in 2023. Beyond trade, the two nations maintain significant connectivity, with nearly 100 flights operating between them each week.
The partnership also extends to cultural and multilateral cooperation through the Organization of Turkic States. Recent cultural initiatives include the installation of a monument to Alisher Navoi in Ankara and academic conferences honoring historical figures such as Abu Rayhan Beruni.
The upcoming summit in Ankara is expected to focus on further integrating trade, energy, and transport corridors, including the development of regional connectivity between Central Asia and international markets through Türkiye.
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