As previously reported, on October 25-26, 2017, President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev paid a state visit to Turkey at the invitation of the President of the Republic of Turkey Recep Tayyip Erdogan. 

The negotiations of the heads of states were held on October 25 in Ankara. Issues of cooperation between Uzbekistan and Turkey in political, trade-economic, investment spheres, in the field of tourism, transport, logistics, cultural, humanitarian and others were discussed in detail. 

As a result of the negotiations, the Presidents signed the Joint Statement, which became the basic document that facilitates the rise of cooperation between the two countries to a new, strategic level. 

More than 20 documents have been also adopted on development of mutual relations in the field of economy, trade, industry, banking and finance sphere, investment, tourism, transport and logistics, healthcare, training, defense and others. 

At the meeting with mass media representatives, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev and President Recep Tayyip Erdogan noted that the negotiations were fruitful, the reached agreements bring the bilateral cooperation to a new stage. 

On October 26, President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev visited the Grand National Assembly of Turkey. 

The Grand National Assembly is the supreme legislative body of the Republic of Turkey. It was established on April 23, 1920. Currently, four parties have their factions in the Assembly. 

President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev met with the Speaker of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey Ismail Kahraman. 

During the negotiations of the Presidents of Uzbekistan and Turkey that were held on October 25, the importance of supporting interparliamentary cooperation through the exchange of visits and conduction of joint events was noted. In the course of the conversation in the parliament of Turkey, attention was paid to issues of strengthening cooperation in this direction, exchange of experience in parliamentary activities and forms of parliamentary control. 

The Speaker of the Grand National Assembly highly appreciated the reforms that are being carried out in Uzbekistan on strengthening democracy, enhancing the role of parliament in the life of the state and society. 

A Memorandum of Cooperation was signed between the Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan and the Grand National Assembly of the Republic of Turkey. 

The President of our country got acquainted with the activities of the Grand National Assembly. 

In the afternoon, Shavkat Mirziyoyev arrived in Istanbul. 

The Head of our state received the Prime Minister of the Republic of Turkey Binali Yildirim. 

At the meeting it was noted that an objective assessment of the current state of bilateral cooperation was given, priority directions for its development were outlined during high-level negotiations that were held in Ankara. The signing of a significant package of documents on cooperation between our countries in the spheres of trade, industry, banking and finance, investment, tourism, cargo transportation, healthcare, training, defense and others was highly appreciated. 

Attention was paid to implementation of these agreements, important areas of development of cooperation between ministries and departments of the two countries. Views were exchanged on issues of mutual interest. 

President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev and the Prime Minister of the Republic of Turkey Binali Yildirim met with representatives of financial and business circles of the two countries. 

At the meeting, the great importance of the documents signed as a result of the high-level negotiations between Uzbekistan and Turkey, was noted. It was also emphasized that at the business forum between the two countries that was held in Istanbul on October 26, agreements were signed on implementation of more than 30 joint projects worth 3,5 billion dollars in the sphere of construction of large energy facilities and road infrastructure, production of textiles, electrical equipment, construction materials, organization of modern productions in food and agro-industries, logistics centers. 

The President of our country noted that an agreement has been reached on bringing the trade turnover between Uzbekistan and Turkey to 3-4 billion dollars a year, in the near future, which will create broad opportunities for businessmen of the two countries. 

Shavkat Mirziyoyev asked the opinion of the heads of Turkish companies about the conditions of doing business in Uzbekistan. 

Entrepreneurs of Turkey highly appreciated the economic reforms that are being implemented in Uzbekistan under the leadership of Shavkat Mirziyoyev, emphasized that liberalization of the monetary system, simplification of the procedure for obtaining a visa created favorable opportunities for the development of mutually beneficial cooperation. 

It was noted that favorable conditions are being created for direct contacts with investors and large companies, a Turkish business center will be established in our country. 

In the course of the dialogue, which was held in an open and constructive spirit, attention was paid to issues of further development of partnership between financial organizations and companies of Uzbekistan and Turkey, expansion of mutual delivery of goods and services, specific promising projects of interest for both sides were discussed. 

At the meeting, a number of documents were signed between the companies of the two countries. 

The Head of our state visited the Topkapi Palace in Istanbul that was built in the XV century and became a museum in the XX century, got acquainted with its history and the ancient exhibits. 

Thereupon, the state visit of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev to the Republic of Turkey ended. The meetings and negotiations that were held during the visit determined important prospects for cooperation between Uzbekistan and Turkey. The signed documents and the reached agreements will serve to fully strengthen mutual relations of the two states and friendship between our people. 

UzA