SEOUL, February 11 (AJP) - Bilateral relations between Uzbekistan and Turkey have expanded significantly in recent years, with youth policy emerging as a primary focus of the diplomatic agenda. This cooperation, initiated by the leaders of both nations, has moved beyond domestic social measures to become a formal component of interstate relations involving trade, education, and innovation.
The shift toward a systematic approach was highlighted during the fifth meeting of the Ministers of Youth and Sports of the member countries of the Organization of Turkic States, held on September 20, 2021, in Tashkent. During this summit, officials reached agreements to coordinate youth exchange programs and joint platforms, leading to a practical exchange in August 2022 where Uzbek youth visited Istanbul and Konya to establish social and professional ties.
Technological cooperation has also become a cornerstone of the partnership. A delegation from the Youth Affairs Agency of the Republic of Uzbekistan participated in the Teknofest Azerbaijan festival in May 2022. This was followed by Uzbekistan's first national pavilion at the Teknofest aerospace and technology festival in Samsun later that year. The pavilion featured 20 innovative projects developed by young Uzbek inventors and engineers.
Further economic integration occurred during the Uzbekistan – Turkey Youth Business Forum held in Istanbul in December 2022. The event brought together more than 200 entrepreneurs and resulted in the signing of cooperation agreements worth 351,000 US dollars. To sustain this momentum, a memorandum was signed in 2025 to establish the Bilim Tashkent center, a facility dedicated to developing technological skills among youth in the Uzbek capital.
The partnership also includes a strong humanitarian and volunteer component. In 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic, the Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TIKA) worked with Uzbek youth to distribute food aid across the country. This volunteer cooperation continued during the recovery efforts following the 2023 earthquake in southeastern Turkey, where youth structures from both nations coordinated on-the-ground support.
Institutional ties are set to strengthen further as the city of Khiva takes on the status of Youth Capital of the Turkic World in 2026. The project will include a young leaders and entrepreneurs forum and an international youth festival. Additionally, Samarkand and Bukhara are slated to become sister youth cities with the Turkish cities of Antalya and Ordu to foster regional connections.
This evolving cooperation system integrates youth exchange, technological innovation, and humanitarian activity into a long-term strategy aimed at developing human capital and strengthening ties between the two societies.
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