In Istanbul, 8th Turkic Council summit begins; focus on Green Technologies & Smart Cities

 Eighth Summit of Cooperation Council of Turkic Speaking States (Turkic Council) began on an island souast of Istanbul on Friday, vember 12 with me "Green Techlogies and Smart Cities in Digital ." Azerbaijan President Ilham Aliyev, Kazakhstan President Kassym-Jomart K. Tokayev, Kyrgyzstan President Sadyr Japarov, Uzbekistan President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, and Prime Minister Viktor Orban of Hungary, an observer state, attended summit, according to a statement.

leaders are expected to discuss ways to expand cooperation in all fields and to adopt a vision document for next two decades, according to statement. Prior to meeting, leaders of participating organisations attended official opening ceremony of council's general secretariat building in Istanbul's historic Sultanahmet neighbourhood, ANI reported. In addition, Turkey President Recep Tayyip Erdogan held bilateral talks with his counterparts on sidelines of summit, according to statement.

Turkic Council's name has been changed to Organization of Turkic States

Turkic Council was established in 2009 to foster cooperation among Turkic-speaking countries. Its members are Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkey, and Uzbekistan, with Hungary serving as an observer. name of Turkic Council has been changed to Organization of Turkic States, according to Turkey's Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu, as part of efforts to strengn ties between Turkic countries and transform for future, Daily Sabah reported. Cavusoglu said that Cooperation Council of Turkic Speaking States is undergoing a transformation project, while speaking at a foreign ministers' meeting a day before 8th Summit of Cooperation Council of Turkic Speaking States in Istanbul.

Stronger foreign policy coordination, security cooperation, signing free trade agreements, transportation border opening, and strong cooperation between member countries are all goals of 2040 vision. According to Daily Sabah, Cavusoglu urged council's foreign ministers to increase consultation on global issues, saying y must all be active in order to maintain control in face of ongoing crises. Reportedly, President Erdogan said earlier this month that establishment of new grounds for dialogue by Turkic Council members' judicial organs is of great importance to Turkey at a time when threats directly affecting countries and ir citizens, such as terrorism, irregular migration, and transnational crimes, are on rise.

(With inputs from ncies)

Im: AP