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Sudan, Turkey to Set Up 'Strategic Cooperation Council'

Sudan, Turkey to Set Up 'Strategic Cooperation Council'

Monday, 25 December, 2017 - 08:30
Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan inspect honor guard during arrival at Khartoum Airport, Sudan December 24, 2017. REUTERS/Mohamed Nureldin Abdallah

Turkey and Sudan have signed 12 agreements in political, economic and social fields. One of these agreements stipulates setting up a “strategic cooperation council”.


The signing took place during talks between Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir and Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Sunday in Khartoum, during his two-day visit.


“Erdogan's visit is a historic visit as it is the first time for a Turkish president to visit Sudan. It is also distinguished, given the great accompanying ministerial delegation," said Bashir at a joint press conference with Erdogan following the talks.


“We need to raise our trade volume to $10 billion,” Erdogan said. “The current trade volume between Turkey and Sudan stands around $500 million,” he added.


Erdogan noted that up to 100 Turkish businessmen accompanied him, and that there will be efforts to create investment-environment.


Sudan's Foreign Minister Ibrahim Ghandour said the visit would improve bilateral relations between the two countries, and Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said that Erdogan visited Sudan in 2006 when he was a prime minister.


Erdogan is accompanied by ministers of education, agriculture, energy, foreign affairs, culture and tourism, transport, maritime affairs and communications, economy and defense as well as Turkish Chief of General Staff and a delegation of Turkish businessmen.


Turkish president delivered a speech infront of the Sudanese parliament, which held a special session to receive the Turkish president.


On Monday, Erdogan will deliver a lecture at the University of Khartoum, which will grant him an honorary doctorate degree.


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