President of Kazakhstan Participates in the Informal Summit of the Organization of Turkic States

Budapest, Hungary

At the outset of his remarks, President of the Republic of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev expressed his gratitude to Prime Minister of Hungary Viktor Orbán for hosting the Informal Summit of the Organization of Turkic States (OTS) at a high level.

– Today’s meeting holds particular significance as it is taking place in the very heart of Europe. This is a vivid testament to our unshakable friendship. We continue to strengthen the unity of our nations and safeguard our shared historical roots, traditions, and cultural values, – the President stated.

He noted that the forum, held under the theme “Meeting Point of East and West,” aligns with the interests and strategic goals of the Turkic world. In the current complex geopolitical environment, he emphasized the growing relevance of cooperation within the OTS framework. He also outlined Kazakhstan’s recent steps to enhance ties with fellow member states.

– Kazakhstan has appointed a Permanent Representative to the OTS and plans to open a dedicated office in the near future; On June 11–12, Astana will host the 14th Plenary Session of the Parliamentary Assembly of Turkic States; This year, the city of Aktau has been declared the Cultural Capital of the Turkic World, and we have already begun implementing concrete initiatives in this context; Last week, at Kazakhstan’s initiative, we established a Consultative Platform of Electoral Authorities, which held its first successful meeting in the historic city of Turkistan; Starting this June, the city of Almaty will serve as the Youth Capital of the OTS; All of these actions demonstrate our commitment to advancing Turkic unity, – the President said.

President Tokayev also underscored the importance of adhering to all agreements adopted within the Organization.

– Another critical issue is the need to strictly observe the documents and regulations adopted under the OTS. All provisions – whether procedural, political, or economic – must be respected and fully implemented, – he stated.

Touching on the state of global trade, which is undergoing significant transformation due to shifting tariff policies, the President highlighted both the challenges and opportunities this brings. He proposed uniting efforts in key sectors such as industry, transport and logistics, agriculture, and digitalization.

He identified the transformation of the Middle Corridor into a transport bridge between East and West as a strategic priority. Kazakhstan, he said, is undertaking efforts to digitalize border procedures with Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan, simplify transit, and modernize its logistics infrastructure, including the opening of a third railway checkpoint on the border with China. He urged OTS member states to jointly implement large-scale infrastructure projects, including those along the North–South axis, to reinforce the region’s role as a key transit hub.

The President also emphasized the need to diversify supply chains for oil, gas, uranium, and other commodities. He expressed appreciation to President Ilham Aliyev of Azerbaijan for supporting Kazakhstan’s efforts to boost oil exports to Europe.

In addition, President Tokayev pointed to increasing international discussions on the idea of constructing a Trans-Caspian oil and gas pipeline. He noted that such large-scale projects require coordinated action at the transnational level.

Among other promising areas, the President highlighted digitalization and information technologies. He announced the start of work on laying a fiber-optic cable across the Caspian Sea, which will significantly improve digital connectivity in the region.

– We must intensify trade among our countries and expand its range. Last year, Kazakhstan’s trade with OTS partners reached $11.4 billion, accounting for 8% of our total foreign trade. While this is a respectable figure, we can certainly aim higher. I therefore propose the development of a dedicated document to boost trade cooperation, – Tokayev stated.

He also stressed the need to deepen cooperation in agriculture, proposing that the OTS strengthen engagement with the Islamic Organization for Food Security.

The President called for joint action to address the growing number of natural disasters, citing the declining water level of the Caspian Sea as an example. He noted the serious negative impact on ecology, economy, and quality of life, and called on Turkic states to conduct joint research and develop common environmental solutions.

The summit also featured addresses by Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, President of Kyrgyzstan Sadyr Japarov, President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev, President of Türkiye Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev, and OTS Secretary General Kubanychbek Omuraliev.