Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev (L), Turkish Parliament Speaker Ismail Kahraman (R)
By Emin Avundukluoglu
ANKARA
Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev visited the Turkish parliament on Thursday and met Parliament Speaker Ismail Kahraman.
Before the meeting, Mirziyoyev recalled that he had last visited Turkey 25 years ago. "After 25 years, we highly appreciate Turkey's big reforms, Turkey's finding its own level in the international arena, and Turkey's affairs in public diplomacy."
Mirziyoyev said that Uzbekistan and Turkish parliaments were ready to accomplish great things.
"I want to stress once again that we have the will in this respect," he added.
President Recep Tayyip Erdogan hailed Wednesday Mirziyoyev's official visit to Turkey -- the first by a top Uzbek leader in decades.
Speaker Kahraman expressed his appreciation of Mirziyoyev's visit to the parliament.
He said Turkey and Uzbekistan should make an effort to further develop relations "between the two brother countries", and make sure they reach the "long-awaited level".
"You are the leader of this effort," said Kahraman pointing to Mirziyoyev who became Uzbekistan's leader last December after the passing of his predecessor, Islam Karimov, after 27 years in office.
A cooperation protocol between the two countries was signed after the meeting.
Kahraman also showed Mirziyoyev the parts of the parliament that had been bombed during the defeated coup attempt of July 15, 2016.
