― 16 мая 2026 г.

Informal Summit of the Organization of Turkic States held in Turkistan

Hosted by the  President of the Republic of Kazakhstan Mr. Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, the Informal Summit of the Council of Heads of State of the Organization of Turkic States was held in Turkistan, the spiritual capital of the Turkic World.

The summit, held under the motto “Artificial Intelligence and Digital Development,” gathered the President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev, the President of the Kyrgyz Republic Sadyr Japarov, the President of the Republic of Türkiye Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, the President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev, and, Mr. Tufan Erhürman, the President of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus which is a member state of the Organization with an observer status, as well as members of the Council of Elders and heads of Turkic cooperation organizations: TURKSOY Secretary General Sultan Raev, TURKPA President Ramil Hasan, the President of the Turkish Culture and Heritage Foundation Aktoty Raimkulova, the President of the Turkic Academy Şahin Mustafayev, the President of the Turkic Investment Fund Bağdat Amrayev, and the Secretary General of the Organization of Turkic States Kubanychbek Omuraliyev.

The summit once again demonstrated the determination to strengthen future-oriented cooperation within the Turkic World based on shared history, language, culture, and values. The leaders emphasized that artificial intelligence and digital technologies hold strategic importance for economic integration, sustainable development, the improvement of public services, innovation, and the preservation of shared cultural heritage.

TURKSOY highlighted by the President of Uzbekistan 

In the specch he delivered at the summit, the President of Uzbekistan Mr. Shavkat Mirziyoyev, placed a special emphasis on the role played by TURKSOY and expressed his appreciation as to the fact that an Office of TURKSOY had recently been opened within the Center for Islamic Civilization established in Tashkent while also stating that it would be beneficial for the center to establish a joint data platform, in cooperation with TURKSOY and the Turkic Academy, to bring together the historical and cultural heritage of Turkic peoples. 

President Mirziyoyev also emphasized that transmitting shared cultural values to future generations through the opportunities of the digital age would further strengthen the unity and solidarity of the Turkic World.

Message from TURKSOY Secretary General Sultan Raev on Artificial Intelligence

Speaking at the summit, TURKSOY Secretary General Sultan Raev highlighted the importance of the Turkic World acting in unison during the technological transformation process. Raev stated, “We will be among the societies that produce, develop, and utilize artificial intelligence for the benefit of humanity.”

Secretary General Raev also emphasized the importance of the Turkic World’s cultural heritage in the digital age, saying, “Our goal is not merely to produce technology; it is to develop technology through a shared culture, shared language, shared memory, and a human-centered understanding of civilization. This is our greatest strength.”

Adoption of the Declaration of Turkistan 

The Declaration of Turkistan, adopted at the conclusion of the summit, confirmed that artificial intelligence and digital development are strategic priorities for the Turkic World. The declaration underscored the shared commitment to deepening multilateral cooperation in these areas within the framework of the Organization of Turkic States, enhancing innovation capacity, and supporting inclusive prosperity.

Under the declaration, the proposals put forward earlier by the Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev to establish the “OTS Digital Innovation Center” and the “Cybersecurity Council” were welcomed. Member states’ relevant institutions were called upon to work in coordination with the OTS Secretariat on cooperation models for these initiatives.

Additionally, the importance of adopting the “Digital Turkic World” concept was underscored; support was expressed for the development of the Wide Turkic Language Model and related artificial intelligence tools, which are being advanced through Türkiye’s initiative. These efforts aim to strengthen communication among Turkic languages, contribute to education and health technologies, serve the preservation of cultural heritage, and support economic integration.

Cooperation in Digital Infrastructure, Transportation, and Space

The declaration noted the need to promote the Digital Silk Road Project and similar digital infrastructure initiatives; it also highlighted the necessity of increasing cooperation in the development of high-speed connectivity, high-performance computing infrastructure, data centers, cloud technologies, and next-generation networks.

In the transportation sector, the integration of e-CMR, e-Permit, and e-Government information systems; the reduction of administrative burdens in border crossings and freight transport processes; and the strengthening of digital customs and transportation applications along the Middle Corridor were among the key topics highlighted in the declaration.

Emphasis on Youth, Science, and Innovation

The declaration called for an increase in joint events focused on digital literacy, artificial intelligence education, skill development, and talent mobility, particularly for young people, women, and STEM fields. Uzbekistan’s proposal to host the “Turkic Science and Innovation Days” in Tashkent in October 2026 was also welcomed.

The declaration also included the announcement of Hive as the 2026 Turkic World Youth Capital. This decision is expected to strengthen young people’s participation in the fields of artificial intelligence, digital innovation, and the preservation of shared cultural and historical heritage.

13th Summit of the OTS to be  Held in Türkiye

Following the signature of the  Declaration of Turkistan, best wishes were extended to Türkiye, which will host the 13th Summit of the Organization of Turkic States. The leaders also expressed their gratitude to the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan Mr. Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and the people of Kazakhstan for their hospitality.