EditDigital dawn in the spiritual capital: key takeaways from the informal OTS summit in Turkistan
Kazakhstan highlights that the Organization of Turkic States is a platform for strengthening trade, economic, high-tech, digital, cultural and humanitarian cooperation
Leaders of the Organization of Turkic States (OTS) gathered on Friday in the historic city of Turkistan, Kazakhstan – widely regarded as the spiritual capital of the Turkic world – for an informal summit dedicated to “Artificial Intelligence and Digital Development.”
Hosted by President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, the meeting brought together the heads of state of Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkey and Uzbekistan.
The summit blended centuries-old Turkic heritage with forward-looking technology, as participants discussed deepening economic, digital, and cultural ties amid global uncertainty. No grand military or geopolitical declarations emerged; instead, the focus remained firmly on practical cooperation.
Kazakhstan’s vision: a platform for trade, tech, and trust – not geopolitics
In his opening remarks, President Tokayev delivered a clear message that encapsulated Kazakhstan’s longstanding approach to Turkic integration: “The Organization of Turkic States is not a geopolitical project, not a military organisation. This is a unique platform for strengthening trade, economic, high-tech, digital, cultural and humanitarian cooperation between fraternal countries.”
He stressed that the Turkic world must “preserve its unity, remain committed to its goals and move forward together,” while positioning political dialogue as a foundation for economic and humanitarian progress rather than a pathway to alliances. This stance – echoed in Kazakhstan’s consistent advocacy – highlights Astana’s preference for an open, non-exclusive format that complements rather than competes with broader Eurasian mechanisms.
Kazakhstan, a founding driver of the OTS (evolved from the 2009 Cooperation Council into a full international organization in 2021), has championed institutional growth, including the “Turkic World Vision – 2040” and the appointment of a Permanent Representative. Tokayev also referenced his earlier “Trans-Altai Dialogue” initiative, supporting the Russian concept of “Altai – the Cradle of Turkic Civilization” as a way to unlock the Eurasian Altai region’s potential across Kazakhstan, Russia, China, and Mongolia – without creating new rival structures.
Economic momentum: from trade growth to the Middle Corridor
Economic integration featured prominently as a driver of shared prosperity. Intra-OTS trade reached $12.9 billion by the end of 2025, while the bloc’s combined GDP exceeds $2.4 trillion and total foreign trade volume hit $1.27 trillion. The average growth rate across member states stood at 6.86% – more than double the global average – yet participants acknowledged that intra-regional trade still has significant untapped potential.
Kazakhstan underscored the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route (Middle Corridor) as a strategic priority. Cargo volumes along the route have grown fivefold in seven years to 4.5 million tons, with container traffic reaching 77,000 TEUs in 2025 (up 36%). The corridor offers a 2,000 km shorter alternative to northern routes, enabling China-to-Europe delivery in about 15 days. Leaders discussed further infrastructure upgrades to reach 12–15 million tons annually and 300,000 TEUs by 2029.
The Turkic Investment Fund – established in 2023 with $600 million capital from Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, Hungary, Kyrgyzstan, Turkey, and Uzbekistan – was highlighted as a key tool for connectivity, SME support, green economy projects, and innovation.
High-tech horizon: AI, digital integration, and innovation
True to the summit’s theme, digital transformation and artificial intelligence dominated discussions. Tokayev proposed a network of AI centers across Turkic states for joint research and talent exchange, alongside a new-format AI university in Kazakhstan offering grants to students from member countries. He suggested creating a joint Turkic AI IT hub at Astana’s Alem.ai center and called for mutual recognition of digital signatures and electronic documents to ease trade.
Building on Kazakhstan’s 2025 Gabala proposals, he urged progress on an OTS Digital Innovation Centre, Digital Monitoring Centre, and Cybersecurity Council. Additional ideas included joint space projects (e.g., expanding the CubeSat-12U satellite initiative) and declaring 2026 Kazakhstan’s Year of Digitalization and AI, backed by new supercomputers, the Digital Qazaqstan strategy, and the Golden Visa program for tech talent.
Uzbekistan’s President Shavkat Mirziyoyev complemented these with proposals for a “Digital Turkic Corridor” for data exchange and a Technology Forum in Tashkent.
The summit’s Turkistan Declaration welcomed Tokayev’s digital initiatives and instructed relevant authorities to elaborate on them, alongside Uzbekistan’s green economy ideas.
Cultural and humanitarian ties: bridging heritage and modernity
Participants reaffirmed the importance of shared history and people-to-people links. Tokayev proposed a Convention on the Preservation of Turkic Civilization Heritage and a multilingual digital platform for Turkic culture. Kazakhstan announced the creation of a Center of Turkic Civilization in Turkistan itself to host joint research, education, and cultural programs.
Looking ahead: open cooperation and the next chapter
The summit concluded with the adoption of the Turkistan Declaration and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s announcement that the next OTS summit will be held in Ankara later in 2026.
In line with Kazakhstan’s consistent position, the gathering reinforced the OTS as a platform for progress, innovation, and open international cooperation – harmonizing the Turkic world’s rich historical heritage with global trends in technology, digitalization, and AI. While member states may approach certain aspects differently, the consensus in Turkistan underscored a shared commitment to practical, future-oriented integration that benefits all member nations and contributes to broader Eurasian connectivity.
Caption: The heads of state of the Organization of Turkic States laid a time capsule to mark the start of construction of the Center of Turkic Civilization. The new cultural and research complex will showcase the rich heritage and contributions of Turkic peoples to world history through modern technologies, including VR/AR, holography, and artificial intelligence. Leaders present: President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, Azerbaijan’s Ilham Aliyev, Türkiye’s Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, Uzbekistan’s Shavkat Mirziyoyev, Kyrgyzstan’s Sadyr Japarov, and others. [Akorda]
Updated: May 16, 2026 - 08:02
