Turkey’s Erdoğan, British PM discuss boosting trade relations, Syria, Cyprus in Ankara

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan hosted British Prime Minister Theresa May inAnkara on Jan. 28 in the latter’s first visit to Turkey after she took office and the two leaders discussed a variety of issues extending from trade relations to advanced joint operations against terror in Syria.

After their meeting at the presidential compound, the two leaders gave a press meeting. Erdoğan touched upon the two country’s trade relations and said they aim to boost the trade volume between Turkey and United Kingdom, increasing it from 15 billion dollars to 20 billion dollars.  

Erdoğan also said he discussed about the Cyprus issue, Syria and Iraq and the Astana process with May.

“Syria and Iraq has a great importance for Turkish and British relations. We want to have a much different concept in the upcoming period for the cooperation between Turkey and the coalition powers. We have discussed these issues,” said Erdoğan.

May has also praised Turkey for its pro-democracy stance in the July 15 coup attempt and added that “carrying our relationship to a further level is for the benefit of both countries.”

After her meeting with Erdoğan, May met with Tırkish Prime Minister Binali Yıldırım in Çankaya Mansion.