MFA Press Statement: Visit of Minister for Foreign Affairs and Minister for Law K Shanmugam to the Republic of Turkey, 3 to 5 January 2013

Minister for Foreign Affairs and Minister for Law K Shanmugam arrived in Ankara on the morning of Thursday, 3 January 2013. Shortly after his arrival, he made a courtesy call on the President of the Republic of Turkey, Abdullah Gül.

President Gül and Minister Shanmugam noted the strong progress made in bilateral relations, particularly since the then-President S R Nathan’s state visit to Turkey in June 2009. President Gül and Minister Shanmugam agreed that there was great potential for deepening bilateral cooperation, particularly in the fields of economics and finance. In this context, they also noted that Singapore and Turkey could serve as gateways for each other’s companies into their respective regions.

Later this afternoon, Minister Shanmugam will call on the Speaker of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey Cemil Çiçek, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, Deputy Prime Minister Ali Babacan, and other Turkish leaders.

Tomorrow, Minister Shanmugam will address the Fifth Annual Ambassadors’ Conference, organised by the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, on “The Rise of Asia in International Relations”. 

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MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS

SINGAPORE

3 JANUARY 2013