ANKARA - Turkish President Abdullah Gul has said that his talks with Japanese authorities focused on efforts to further consolidate the existing cooperation ties between Turkey and Japan.
President Gul returned to Turkey on Sunday after completing his state visit to Turkey.
Holding a news conference at Ankara's Esenboga Airport after his arrival, Gul said that the visit was a significant milestone in Turkey's nine-year policy about eastern Asia and Pacific region.
"Japan and the other Far Eastern countries consider Turkey a powerful and important actor in its region. They also describe Turkey as a significant commercial partner due to Turkey's close relations with Europe, Middle East, Balkans and Central Asia," he said.
"2010 will be celebrated in Turkey as the year of Japan. Therefore, I invited Emperor Akihito of Japan to Turkey in 2010," he said.
Gul told reporters that he also had the chance of holding talks with Japanese businessmen during the visit. "I informed them on facilities provided by Turkey to foreign investors. I also called on them to invest more in Turkey," he added.
(UK)
DIP)