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Turkey aspires to boost trade cooperation with Kuwait -- President Erdogan

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan

By Redha Sardar

ANKARA, April 26 (KUNA) -- Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has labelled as excellent his nation's ties with the State of Kuwait, calling for greater efforts to bolster further the economic and trade relations between the two sides.
In an exclusive interview with Kuwait News Agency (KUNA), President Erdogan, due to visit Kuwait on April 27 (on Monday), said these bilateral ties have been based, primarily, on a "joint past," explaining that the Turks and Kuwaitis share common religious and cultural values and jointly advocate regional stability and prosperity.
Turkey, which supported Kuwait in face of the 1990 Iraqi aggression, has maintained "the same spirit of solidarity with sisterly Kuwait," President Erdogan noted in the special interview with KUNA, adding that he does not differentiate between the two countries' security and stability.
Erdogan praised His Highness the Amir's external policy of moderation, also lauding his UN designation as a "Humanitarian Leader," expressing good wishes to Kuwait, also proclaimed as a "Humanitarian Center." "Such an award" by the UN affirms that His Highness the Amir is a wise personality, he added.
On the Turkish-Kuwait commercial ties, Erdogan said the trade volume reached USD 569 million last year, affirming that Ankara would seek to increase the commercial exchanges in 2016. Political will, legal grounds and necessary mechanisms for attaining such a target are available in the two countries, he said, noting that the 10th meeting of the joint economic commission would be held in second half of the current year.
Turkey has already formed the team that would take part in the forecast meeting, he said, expressing readiness to offer the Turkish experience in defense and technological industries.
Elaborating on his mission in Kuwait, President Erdogan said he would inquire about investment opportunities for Turkish companies and promote feasible investment chances for the Kuwaitis in his country, adding that he would discuss with the top leaders regional affairs, namely Yemen, Palestine and Syria.
He re-affirmed support for the Saudi-led, "Operation Desert Storm," in Yemen, noting that the second operation, dubbed "Operation Restoration of Hope," was very significant, urging for reconciliation in the troubled country. Moreover, he stressed that the Houthi militias should surrender the heavy arms and take part in the aspired political process.
President Erdogan re-affirmed Ankara's solid ties with all GCC states, noting that it launched the strategic dialogue with countries of the region in 2008. Previous meetings had been held four times at this level, he said, adding that the fifth was scheduled in Qatar later this year.
On the Syrian crisis, he has confirmed that his country hosts 1.7 million Syrian refugees, stating that his country has spent up to USD 5.5 billion for aiding them. Turkey also hosts 300,000 Iraqi refugees.
He critized the internatinal community for not doing much for resolving the Syrian question. (end) rs.rk