Turkey needs close ties with Sri Lanka, says Turkish Foreign Minister

Turkish foreign minister Mevlut Cavusoglu has said that Turkey wants to flourish holistic relations with Asia that has become the centre of global economic power, reported Anadolu Agency.

Inaugurating a new office of Sri Lanka’s Antalya Honorary Consulate General in the town of Alanya, the foreign minister expressed Turkey’s desires to promote cooperation in economy, culture and education.

Highlighting the important role of honorary consulates in diplomatic interactions, Cavusoglu talked about the first Turkish diplomatic contact with Sri Lanka that was established in 1864 when an honorary consulate was opened by the Ottoman Empire, according to Anadolu Agency.

“[Turkey] Will further develop our cooperation with friendly Sri Lanka in the framework of our Asia Anew Initiative,” Cavusoglu said in a tweet.

Our initiative to open this office provides an opening to explore untapped opportunities available in Antalya for the betterment of the people of Turkey and Sri Lanka,” AA quoted Hassen as saying.