The Informal Summit of the Organization of Turkic States convened on 15 May 2026 in Turkistan, Kazakhstan, under the theme “Artificial Intelligence and Digital Development” – placing the technologies that are reshaping research, teaching and innovation at the very top of the Turkic cooperation agenda.

Hosted by President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, the Summit brought together President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev, President of the Kyrgyz Republic Sadyr Zhaparov, President of Türkiye Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev, President of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus Tufan Erhürman and OTS Secretary General Ambassador Kubanychbek Omuraliev.

The leaders adopted the Turkistan Declaration together with decisions on strengthening the institutional and digital capacity of the OTS Secretariat and on the appointment of a Deputy Secretary General. Discussions centred on digital transformation and innovation, artificial intelligence and digital governance, smart infrastructure and innovation ecosystems, and sustainable economic development, framed by the long-term “Turkic World Vision-2040.” The Summit also launched the “Center of Turkic Civilization” initiative – conceived as an international-level multifunctional cultural, scientific and tourist centre integrating the heritage of the Turkic world.

For the academic community, the Turkistan Summit matters well beyond its diplomatic significance. By making artificial intelligence and digital development the unifying theme of the year, the Turkic states have signalled where joint projects, funding priorities and skills initiatives will concentrate – from AI research and digital governance to the innovation ecosystems in which universities play a defining role.

These directions align closely with the mission of TURKUNIB, whose member universities are natural partners in building the region's digital and research capacity. The Summit's emphasis on AI, innovation and a shared scientific infrastructure reinforces the case for deeper inter-university collaboration in precisely the fields the leaders have now identified as strategic.

Photo: Organization of Turkic States (turkicstates.org)

Photo: Organization of Turkic States (turkicstates.org)

Photo: Organization of Turkic States (turkicstates.org)

Based on official OTS reporting: The Informal Summit of the Organization of Turkic States convened in Turkistan, Kazakhstan