Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan discussed with the Chairman of Sudan's Sovereign Council Abdel Fattah al-Burhan enhancing bilateral relations and several regional and international issues.
Burhan began Thursday a two-day visit to Turkey at the invitation of Erdogan, accompanied by an official delegation.
Erdogan received Burhan in an official ceremony at the Presidential Palace in Ankara, where they held bilateral talks, followed by expanded discussions which included the accompanying delegations.
According to Turkish sources, Erdogan and Burhan also addressed the recent developments of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) and the relations between Khartoum and Addis Ababa.
The two sides signed several memorandums of understanding (MoUs) on the sideline of the meeting.
The memorandums of understanding include collaboration in renewable energy and energy efficiency, cooperation protocols between the foreign ministries, economic and fiscal cooperation between the relevant ministries, military-fiscal cooperation, and an implementation protocol of cash assistance.
During the joint press conference, Burhan lauded the long-standing and historical ties between Turkey and Sudan and said their duty was to preserve and enhance these relations.
“Turkey has always stood by Sudan. Turkey has been standing by Sudan, particularly during the transformation and changes Sudan has been going through. I believe that we will overcome this process as well with the support of such sincere friends of ours as Turkey and its leader.”
Burhan explained that his country is going through a transitional phase led by its youth, pointing out that the Turkish experience inspires Sudan.
Burhan announced that he had invited the Turkish President to visit Khartoum soon.
Erdogan said: “We also shared with al-Burhan our concerns regarding the recent tension between Sudan and Ethiopia, two brotherly and neighboring countries. I highlighted the importance of solving this issue through mutual dialogue and consensus.”
Turkey will continue to stand by Sudan in the period ahead, and the solidarity between the two will further grow, added Erdogan.
"I hope our talks will lead to auspicious developments for both of our countries. I thank my treasured brother al-Burhan and his delegation for this historic visit,” he asserted during the press conference."
Relations between Turkey and Sudan have developed since Erdogan’s Justice and Development Party took power in Turkey in 2002.
During Erdogan's visit to Khartoum in December 2017, Sudan and Turkey signed 22 agreements and MoUs in many fields of cooperation.
Last May, the Deputy Chairman of the Transitional Sovereign Council, Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, also known as Hemedti, visited Turkey at the invitation of the Turkish side and was accompanied by a ministerial delegation.
It was the first visit of a Sudanese official at this level after the toppling of the regime of former President Omar al-Bashir, who enjoyed the support of Ankara.
