News Briefing: Turkish Parliamentary Engagements in Central Asia , October 20, 2026
Leila Haddad | AA
Turkish Parliament Speaker Numan Kurtulmus meets Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov and Kazakh counterpart Aibek Dadebay in Bishkek to discuss Turkic cooperation and bilateral relations.
This briefing covers developments from Central Asia, particularly meetings involving Turkish parliamentarians and officials from Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan. Discussions focused on enhancing cooperation among Turkic states and strengthening bilateral ties.
Meeting with Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov
Turkish Parliament Speaker Numan Kurtulmus met with Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov in Bishkek during the 15th General Assembly of the Parliamentary Assembly of Turkic States (TURKPA). The meeting, attended by parliamentary leaders from Kyrgyzstan, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC), centered around developments in the Turkic world and regional cooperation.
The discussions took place at the Yntymak Ordo presidential complex, underlining TURKPA's emphasis on collaborative activities. TURKPA Secretary-General Ramil Hasan was also present, highlighting the organization's role in fostering inter-parliamentary dialogue among Turkic states.
Bilaterals with Kazakh Counterpart Aibek Dadebay
In a separate engagement, Kurtulmus conferred with his Kazakh counterpart Aibek Dadebay, focusing on bilateral and interparliamentary relations between Türkiye and Kazakhstan. He underscored the significance of strengthening cooperation, given their shared historical, linguistic, and cultural connections.
Kurtulmus expressed satisfaction with the expanding economic ties between the two nations and emphasized Kazakhstan's role as Türkiye's largest trading partner in Central Asia. He also highlighted the Middle Corridor's strategic importance as a safe, short, and efficient route for East-West trade.
Kurtulmus invited Dadebay to attend the COP31 Parliamentary Meeting scheduled for November 16 in Antalya, hosted by Türkiye in collaboration with the Inter-Parliamentary Union.
Urban Governance and Regional Cooperation
The meetings in Bishkek underscore the significance of regional cooperation and inter-parliamentary dialogues in shaping urban governance strategies. As cities in these countries look to enhance infrastructure and connectivity, collaborations like those facilitated through TURKPA offer vital frameworks for informed policymaking.
Municipal leaders in urban centers across Central Asia can benefit from the lessons of regional integration and economic partnership highlighted during these discussions. The Middle Corridor, in particular, illustrates how improved trade routes can enhance urban economic opportunities, prompting city planners to prioritize transport and logistics infrastructure.