The Parliamentary Assembly of the Turkish States (TURKPA) was established with the Istanbul Agreement at the establishment meeting held in Istanbul on November 21, 2008 with the aim of creating parliamentary business partnership and improving solidarity at the institutional level between the Turkic-speaking states. This organization promotes the sharing of common legislative experience and legal harmony between the legislative bodies of the member states, especially Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Turkey. The platform in question aims to protect common identities and values and support regional integration through parliamentary diplomacy. TURKPA, which operates under the rotating presidency system, continues its function with regular general assembly meetings, observation missions and commission activities; provides multidimensional contributions on political, economic, cultural and environmental issues.
In the last two decades, regional associations and identity-based cooperation have become increasingly important in international relations. In this context, the formation and development of multilateral institutional structures among the Turkish States is a remarkable trend both in terms of strengthening strategic solidarity and institutionalizing cultural identity. The Parliamentary Assembly of the Turkish States comes to the fore as one of the most important building blocks of this Deconstruction phase. June November 2025, high-level meetings held in Astana, the capital of Kazakhstan, intensively under the leadership of Kazakh President Kasim Generous Tokayev, demonstrated in concrete terms the strategic value given to Turkish integration and the role of parliamentary diplomacy.
At this stage, Kazakhstan’s role has not been limited to merely hosting events; it has also pioneered a long-term vision among the Turkic states in areas such as shared historical consciousness, regional cooperation, and the preservation of cultural heritage. The meetings and statements held within the framework of TURKPA demonstrate that inter-parliamentary dialogue among Turkic countries is regarded not just as a tool, but as a strategic platform for cooperation.
The meeting held by Tokayev with the heads of parliament of the TURKPA member governments on June 12, 2025, carries great significance for the Turkic World, not only symbolically but also structurally. In his statement, he emphasized that this Assembly serves as an important platform for strengthening solidarity and influence among nations within the Turkic World. His remark, “Solidarity in the Turkic World is growing stronger each year,” signals not only the current scope of cooperation but also points to the strengthening of future directions. Tokayev also reminded that Kazakhstan is one of the founding members of the Organization of Turkic States (OTS), highlighting that this formation aims not only at economic development but also at humanitarian and cultural advancement. It was especially noted that during Kazakhstan’s chairmanship of the OTS in 2023, over 100 integration-focused events were organized, including the successful hosting of the 5th World Nomad Games in Astana. These events were stated to hold vital importance in promoting the Turkic World and increasing the visibility of a common identity on the international stage. [1]
Tokayev described the adoption of the common Turkic alphabet as a “historic development,” stating that this decision would also enhance cognitive and cultural harmony among the Turkic states. These developments demonstrate that parliamentary cooperation is shaping a new regional structure where not only legal processes but also cultural policies are carried out in coordination. Tokayev remarked, “This positive trend contributes to the increasing international authority and influence of the Turkic World.” His emphasis on parliamentary diplomacy also indicates that this field lies at the core of Kazakhstan’s foreign policy. Indeed, Kazakhstan fully supports TURKPA’s initiatives and continues to play a constructive role in the integration of the Turkic World. Furthermore, Kazakhstan has proposed that the next OTS Summit be held in the city of Turkistan. This is a highly symbolic proposal, as the city’s characterization as “sacred” refers to its historical and cultural role as a central hub in the region.[2]
The TURKPA meeting held in 2025 in Kazakhstan’s capital, Astana, was not merely a diplomatic gathering; it also signaled the beginning of a new era in which institutional integration within the Turkic World is gaining momentum. The multi-layered diplomacy pursued by Tokayev has fostered not only political rapprochement among the Turkic States but also a structure in which a shared vision is gradually being institutionalized. In this context, parliamentary diplomacy has moved beyond the realm of traditional foreign policy tools and has started to function as a platform that enables direct interaction between peoples. In this regard, inter-parliamentary engagement has evolved into a dimension that supports not only decision-making processes but also the reconstruction of a shared cultural identity.
In particular, the initiatives put forward in recent years with the joint alphabet initiative, cultural organizations, investment funds and permanent representative mechanisms not only strengthen cooperation, but also create a community of norms in the long term and make regional solidarity permanent. As a result, the business partnerships strengthened and developed under the umbrella of TURKPA will be held at the 21st session. it makes the possibility of turning the century into an “era of opportunities” for the Turkish states increasingly concrete. At the stage of realization of this possibility, corporate continuity and social ownership come to the fore as well as visionary leadership.
