Turkey's Defense Minister Nurettin Canikli has arrived in Uzbekistan with a working visit. He was met by the Defense Minister of Uzbekistan, Colonel-General Kabul Berdiyev.
After the ceremony, minister Canikli thanked for hospitality and said he was delighted to visit brotherly Uzbekistan, with whom Turkey shares common history.
Canikli said this visit had been his first foreign travel since taking office, and he mentioned the warmth and respect of all Turkic people towards Uzbekistan, described Uzbekistan as a land of rich history and culture.
Noting that relations between the two countries have stepped up after President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan's visit to Samarkand in November last year, Canikli also pointed to Turkey's determination to develop relations between the two countries.
Canikli also reminded of Fethullah Gulenists' last year's attempted coup d'état: "Uzbekistan was the first country to recognize and condemn this terrorist organization and to forbid its activities in Uzbekistan. And once again, we congratulate Uzbekistan for this cautiousness," he said.
Colonel-General Kabul Berdiyev said that he was delighted to host Canikli and the accompanying delegation. Congratulating Canikli on his new role, Berdiyev noted that relations between Turkey and Uzbekistan are getting better from day to day.
Berdiyev pointed out that Turkey was the first country to recognize Uzbekistan's independence, reminding that Turkey is ranked fifth among Uzbekistan's foreign trade partners.
Pointing to the positive contribution made by President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan's Samarkand visit to the bilateral ties, Berdiyev noted that there are many issues to be reviewed between the two countries' defense ministries, he underscored.
Following this meeting, Defense Minister Colonel-General Kabul Berdiyev and Minister of Defense of Turkey Nurettin Canikli signed a protocol of cooperation between Turkey and Uzbekistan in the field of military education .
Later today the visiting Turkish Defense Minister was received by the President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev. The sides reportedly discussed the prospects for military and military-technical cooperation between the two countries.
The minister conveyed Shavkat Mirziyoyev the best wishes from the President of Turkey Recep Tayyip Erdogan and stressed the readiness of the Turkish side to develop full-scale cooperation with Uzbekistan.
It is reported that the parties have reached an agreement on the organization in 2018 of training of servicemen of the Uzbekistan's Armed Forces in military educational institutions and centers of Turkey.
Last month, Turkish specialized modern automotive equipment were tested in Uzbekistan. Now the issue of its supply to the country is being studied and aspects of its joint manufacturing in Uzbekistan are also being considered.
