BAKU, Oct. 15 (Xinhua) -- Uzbekistan joined the Cooperation Council of Turkic Speaking States (Turkic Council) as a full-fledged member, as Turkic leaders gathered here for their seventh summit on Tuesday, according to the state-run news agency AZERTAC.

Participants included Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Kyrgyz President Sooronbai Jeenbekov, Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, former Kazakh leader Nursultan Nazarbayev, Prime Minister of Hungary Viktor Orban, Deputy Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers of Turkmenistan Purli Agamuradov and secretary general of the council Baghdad Amreyev.

Addressing the event, Aliyev hailed the council's role in developing cooperation among Turkic-speaking states in political, economic, transport, humanitarian, tourism and ICT areas. He also said the council maintained fruitful cooperation with international organizations, including the UN, Organization of Islamic Cooperation and Economic Cooperation Organization.

Uzbek President Mirziyoyev called Oct. 15 a "historic" day for Uzbekistan. He noted the significance of developing trade and economic relations among Turkic-speaking states.

Mirziyoyev also put forward an initiative to establish a forum of young entrepreneurs of Turkic-speaking states. "Forty percent of the population of the Turkic Council member countries are youth. We therefore propose founding a forum of young entrepreneurs and holding its first meeting in Uzbekistan next year."

Founded by Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Turkey in 2009, the Turkic Council is an intergovernmental organization aiming to promote comprehensive cooperation among Turkic-speaking states.

The eighth summit of the council will be held in Turkey. Enditem

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