Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) -- On 1 April 2021, an online conference was held on the topic: "Prospects for the development of interaction between the countries of the Cooperation Council of Turkic-speaking states in new conditions."

The dialogue, organized by the Institute for Strategic and Interregional Studies under the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan, was attended by the leadership of the CCTS secretariat, as well as prominent representatives of the leading analytical centers of Azerbaijan, Turkey and the countries of Central Asia.

The participants of the event discussed the results of the informal summit of the heads of state of the Turkic Council held on 31 March, as well as issues of further expanding cooperation within the Organization.

Opening the videoconference, Deputy Director of the Institute for Strategic and Interregional Studies Sanjar Valiyev emphasized that the past summit of the Turkic Council, despite its informal status, showed the highest productivity in filling with important discussions and making practical decisions enshrined in the final Turkestan Declaration. In fact, the heads of state laid down the program guidelines for the activities of CCTS bodies and states in 2021.

According to S. Valiyev, this is especially important because now the Turkic-speaking states face urgent tasks to overcome the pandemic, restore national economies, and resume broad humanitarian ties. In this regard, it is no coincidence that in his speech, the President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev first of all dwelled on the development of economic ties, industrial cooperation, implementation of investment projects and increasing transport and transit potential.

Supporting this point of view, Deputy Secretary General of the CCTS Gismat Gozalov emphasized the concentration of Uzbekistan’s efforts on the issues of expanding the economic component of cooperation, which is especially important in the continuing difficult situation in the world.

At the same time, the expert noted that the unification of the capabilities of the Turkic-speaking states will contribute to ensuring sustainable peace, stability, security and prosperity, as well as the accelerated implementation of regional projects of strategic importance.

In turn, the chairman of the board of the Center for Analysis of International Relations of Azerbaijan, Farid Shafiyev, pointed to the growing role of the Turkic Council in maintaining multilateral cooperation of the Turkic-speaking states.

According to him, the observed common desire of the member states of the Organization to build the foundations of a sustainable model of interaction in the post-pandemic period will contribute to the consistent going beyond the cultural and humanitarian aspect of relations.

One of the significant events in the modern history of the Turkic Council, he called the entry of Uzbekistan into this Organization and the subsequent activation of the CCTS.

At the same time, the Azerbaijani political scientist identified the transport and communication sphere as one of the most promising areas contributing to the rapprochement of the countries of the Turkic Council. In this context, they stressed the relevance of Azerbaijan’s plans to expand the transit capabilities of the "Trans-Caspian Corridor" connecting the Central Asian states with Azerbaijan and Turkey. He proposed to hold a regular meeting of analytical centers in Azerbaijan in the near future, dedicating it to issues of further strengthening transport and communication interconnection between the Turkic-speaking states.

Another promising area of cooperation within the CCTS, President of the Institute of Foreign Policy of Turkey Hussein Bagci considers the scientific and educational sphere. According to him, the joint promotion of science and the expansion of academic exchanges can serve as the basis for ensuring the inclusive development of the Turkic community and an important tool for educating the younger generation in understanding the common historical roots and belonging of a single civilization.

At the same time, the Turkish specialist noted with satisfaction the current level of interaction in the Organization, which demonstrates that the states of the Turkic Council were able to convert kinship and ethnic ties into mutually beneficial economic cooperation. In recent years, the CCTS has established itself as an effective regional structure with effective mechanisms for the development of multifaceted interaction.

Marton Ugroshdy, director of the Institute of Foreign Affairs and Trade under the Hungarian Foreign Ministry, agreed with this opinion. The director of the Hungarian think tank expressed Hungary’s high interest in developing trade and economic cooperation with the CCTS countries. An example of this was the signing of a solid package of agreements following the recent visit of Hungarian Prime Minister V. Orban to Uzbekistan.

The expert also pointed out that tourism development is another issue of common interest among countries. In his opinion, cooperation in the field of international tourism has great potential, since the CCTS countries share a common history and culture. He especially emphasized that Budapest is ready to closely interact and share its experience for the development of the tourism potential of the Turkic-speaking countries.

Expert of the Kazakhstan Institute for Strategic Studies Asel Aben dwelled on this topic separately. The expert considers it necessary to focus on the development of medical tourism, which has a positive impact not only on improving the quality of people’s health, but also makes a great contribution to the development of the national economies of the member countries.

According to her estimates, in 2020 the medical tourism market amounted to US$10.1 billion, and in 2021-2027 this figure is expected to grow more than three times, amounting to US$37 billion.

According to the global medical tourism index 2020-2021, among 46 countries, Hungary ranks 23rd, and Turkey - 30th. Thus, the experience of medical tourism of these states (Hungary and Turkey) will be useful and necessary for other member states of the Turkic Council.

In turn, Aziz Karimov, a leading researcher at ISMI, pointed out the need to develop transport and communication links. In particular, he stressed that the creation of highly developed, ramified and sustainable transport networks are vital for strengthening regional economic integration, increasing the competitiveness of the economies of the Turkic-speaking countries, ensuring their sustainable growth and increasing the investment attractiveness of all member states of the Turkic Council. It will also strengthen the position of the Organization’s member states in the international trading system and the emerging new model of global supply chains.

At the end of the meeting, the participants unanimously stressed the need to hold such expert meetings on a regular basis for a detailed discussion of pressing issues on the agenda of the Organization.