These include economic ties, and jointly fighting extremism, terrorism
By
Saini Salleh
President Nathan and his Turkish counterpart Abdullah Gul chatting during the joint press conference, after their 90-minute meeting in the capital. -- PHOTO: AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE
ANKARA (TURKEY) - SINGAPORE and Turkey have agreed to step up economic cooperation in the face of the global recession, and work together to fight extremism and terrorism in the name of religion.
The agreement was expressed by President SR Nathan and his Turkish counterpart Abdullah Gul, in a joint press conference at the end of a 90-minute meeting at the Cankaya presidential palace yesterday afternoon.
Mr Nathan, who has been in Turkey since Monday, is on a seven-day visit to the country.
Before the meeting, he led the Singapore delegation in placing a wreath at the mausoleum of the father of modern Turkey, the late president Mustafa Kemal Ataturk.
He then headed to the Cankaya Palace to inspect the guard of honour, accompanied by a 21-gun salute.
During the press conference, Mr Nathan said Singapore is interested in stepping up economic cooperation with Turkey through trade and investment.
This will be done through the Singapore-Turkey Business Council, which is to be formed through an agreement to be signed in Istanbul tomorrow.
Cooperation between the countries could also extend to exploring business opportunities in the developing world, Mr Nathan said.
And he said there are still business opportunities to be explored in places such as China, India and Asean.
But that would be left up to the businessmen of the two countries, as he said government can only open the door to allow them to invest and carry out business activities.
Read the full story in Thursday's edition of The Straits Times.
