Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan arrived in Kyrgyzstan on Monday to participate in the upcoming summit of the Organization of Turkic States (OTS), set to take place on Wednesday in the Kyrgyz capital, Bishkek.

Erdogan, accompanied by first lady Emine Erdogan, Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, Energy and Natural Resources Minister Alparslan Bayraktar, National Defense Minister Yasar Guler, and other Turkish officials, was welcomed at Bishkek-Manas International Airport by Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov and his wife, Aygul Japarov.

The summit, marking the 11th gathering of OTS heads of state, will address key areas including economic integration, sustainable development, digital transformation, and security, according to OTS Secretary-General Kubanychbek Omuraliev.

The OTS, comprising Türkiye, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Uzbekistan as full members, with Hungary and Turkmenistan holding observer status, aims to strengthen cooperation in trade, politics, culture, and security across the region.

Since its formation, the OTS has played a vital role in fostering regional unity and cultural preservation, making strides in trade growth among member states, supporting regional infrastructure projects, and advancing cultural programs to reinforce Turkic heritage. (ILKHA)