TASAM | Turkey - Uzbekistan Strategic Dialogue Thinking Diplomacy: N...

Turkey - Uzbekistan Strategic Dialogue

“Thinking Diplomacy: New World New Horizons“

When we look at the main trends in the world, global competition in the age of new economy based on "information and knowledge-based products" following "soil and machinery" is developing through "micro-nationalism", "integration" and "unpredictability’’. Challenges that determine the new nature of life and state; such as " crisis in resource and sharing ", unsustainability of production-consumption-growth formula, purge of the middle class with Chinese leverage, energy, water, and food insecurity, transition to the 4th dimension, liquidation of human resources in the workforce, transition from hard power to soft and smart power on the basis of the very changing state nature and anticipation management, can be formed as the basic references.

Within all these fundamental parameters, the transformations in technology are prone to change the whole human life and nature by developing with artificial intelligence, virtual/enhanced reality and mobility centered. It is obvious that the concepts of "Industry 4.0" and "Society 5.0" are important topics for managing the transformation of the world within the dimensions of industry and society. Another contributive factor is the turbulence that China creates as it begins to become intensively dominant on the world stage day to day. The New Silk Road project, "One Belt and One Road Initiative"; is shaped as a global integration project involving more than hundred countries, both on land and at sea, permanently changing the distribution of economic shares. In countries with no middle class, authoritarian regimes or chaos stands as two options in the fore-seeable future. How to make the division of labor in terms of regional and global security and how to share the costs is also a point of discussion in the coming period.

The development of new alliances on security can be read from the risks and the initiatives undertaken by dominant countries. The quality of the concepts of property and power, and the business model change historically. The future of the EU with the "Failure in Success" syndrome will be determined by the results of the polarization which revived in the West after the Brexit. Along with all these developments, "Ecosystem of safety" changes with the law. The "Security - Democracy" dilemma will be experienced much more after that. Because, for the democracy, it is difficult to survive in countries where the middle class is melting and security leans to a sophisticated ground. The question "Will security bring us authoritarian regimes" needs to be discussed further.

Turkey distinguishes itself with an 84-million inhabitants, growing economy and geo-strategic status in the center of Afro-Eurasia. Turkey's historical, political and cultural ties between Europe, Black Sea, Caucasus, Asia, Middle East and African countries, rising activity in the international arena, especially in the United Nations, being an important member of organizations such as NATO, OSCE and CICA and with active foreign policy, it has become an increasingly important actor on the global platform.

On the other hand; Uzbekistan is a central and defining country with respect to its global relations network in Central Asia and Eurasia. In order to preserve stability and sustainability in the region; Uzbekistan is not just important due to its geopolitical status but also it is a vital country due to its infrastructure. Uzbekistan is member of more than 100 international and regional organizations including UN, SCO, CIS, OSCE, EBRD, ADP, IMF, FAO, OIC, ECO and World Bank. Uzbekistan is a unique country with its dynamic and dense population, energy resources, market size and its position in the region.

There are historical and cultural ties that go back to hundreds of years between the Turkey and the Uzbekistan which is the biggest Turkic Republic in the Central Asia. Similarities in traditions and language between the Turkish and Uzbek society are the main elements to build a cultural bridge. Turkey was the first country who recognized the independence of Uzbekistan after the collapse of the Soviet Union. The relations started in 1992 and have been continuing till now with agreements’, high level visits, trade and tourism.

Both Uzbekistan and Turkey are members of OSCE, ECO and OIC. Uzbekistan has the potential to deepen the relationship between Turkey and Asian countries due to its membership to CIS and SCO. On the other hand Turkey as a NATO member and a candidate for European Union membership has potential to contribute to deepen the relationship between Uzbekistan and the West. Both countries are members to the UN, IMF and World Bank and both have high potential for cooperation.

After gaining its independence Uzbekistan has employed liberal economic policies and adopted free market economy model. Since then privatization and free trade are programs have been implemented in the country. Main export commodities of Uzbekistan are cotton, textile intermediate products, oil, natural gas, machine equipments, food products, precious metals and chemical products.

Main import commodities of Uzbekistan are machine equipments, food products and chemical products. Export policies of Uzbekistan are diversification of export commodities and to increase exportation. Uzbekistan is the 5^th biggest cotton producer and 2^nd biggest exporter of cotton in the world. There is huge potential in developing economic relations between Uzbekistan and Turkey which is trying to increase market share in steel and steel products, textile machines and other industrial products. Energy trade and security are also potential areas of cooperation.

The bilateral trade volume between Turkey and Uzbekistan stood at 1.188 billion dollars in the first half of 2019 and trade gap weigh against Uzbekistan was 43 million dollars. The main products exported by Turkey to Uzbekistan are cleaning agents, pharmaceuticals, trailers, plastic products, food processing machinery. The main products exported by Uzbekistan to Turkey are copper, copper alloys and copper products, sheets, cotton yarn, virgin zinc, petroleum oils, fertilizers, canned goods, gold, raw lead, silk. Strengthening and developing the Uzbekistan-Turkey relations will create gravity for the other countries in the region, and also play an engine role to sustain the relations of Turkey-Region’s countries relations and also the relations between them.

It is also being deeply felt that there is an urgent necessity for collaborative works of the two countries so that the solutions for the regional issues can be found. Now it is required that the two countries head towards a future structure, in order to uplift the Turkey - Uzbekistan relations an ideal point within a world power schema which takes its form in a multi-dimensional way, by creating a mutual deepening not only in political and strategic basis but also in its each parameters. History offers both the two countries opportunities for deepening their interdependency. In this regard, the Turkey - Uzbekistan Strategic Dialogue, which will bring together the representatives of the related sectors in a comprehensive way that includes the strategic dimension of the relations, will play a significant role.

Main Theme
Thinking Diplomacy: New World New Horizons

Sub Themes
New Balances New Economy
Turkey - Uzbekistan Economic Relations: Opportunities and Obstacles
Middle East and Central Asia and Turkey - Uzbekistan
Turkic Council: New Horizons and Building
Energy Security, Energy Supply Policies and Opportunities
Economic Cooperation
Turkey - Uzbekistan Security/Defence Cooperation, Multidimensional Security and Struggle against Terrorism
Transportation, Logistics, Banking System
Bilateral and Multilateral Capacity Building among OIC Member Countries
Technology Sharing and Innovation in Public administration
Academic and Cultural Cooperation Opportunities
Regional and Global Common Perspectives

Primary Sectors
Public Diplomacy, Education and Language
Culture and Tourism
Construction, Construction Business and Infrastructure
Health and Health Tourism
Energy, Petro-chemistry and Investments
Logistics, Transportation and Communication
Banking and Finance (Strategic Investment Fund)
Economy and Trade
Media and Communication
Science and Technology
Brand Cities and Environment
Defence and Space Industry

STUDIES AND ACTIVITIES (DRAFT)

Method
Inductive Reasoning, Participation and Economic Deepening

Turkey - Uzbekistan Committee of Wise Persons Meetings Workshop

Building Capacity and Ecosystem Inventory

Preparation of Research Projects and their Reports

Development of Pro-active Policy Recommendations

Round-Table Meetings/Workshops

Multilateral Workshops/Studies

Sector Workshops/Activities

Applied Interactive Modelings

Strategic Reports
Publication of sector studies as strategic reports for decision makers, private sector, media and public opinion of the two countries. Providing literature and memory support.

Media Conferences

Other Academic Studies
Strategic Reports, Books, Articles, Thesis and so on Academic Studies

Event Page
https://tasam.org/en/Etkinlik/18294/turkey_-_uzbekistan_strategic_dialogue_