HYDERABAD - Turkish Foreign Minister and Chief Negotiator for EU Talks Ali Babacan met Turkish and Indian businessmen at a dinner held in Hyderabad, India on Thursday.
Delivering a speech at the gathering, Babacan said there were strong historical ties between Turkey and India.
Babacan said the two countries had many values in common such as democracy, secularism, rule of law and pluralism, adding that the economic progress displayed by the countries were similar as well.
Noting that Turkey carried out a multi-dimensional foreign policy, Babacan said India had a specific importance for Turkey within this framework.
Babacan said Turkish State Minister Kursad Tuzmen would also pay a visit to India next month. He said President Abdullah Gul and Premier Recep Tayyip Erdogan were planning to visit this country in 1-2 years as well.