Turkey and Britain Strengthen Bilateral Ties Through Intensive Cooperation

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan met with British Foreign Secretary David Lammy in Ankara, Monday, to discuss the expansion of bilateral trade and strengthen ties between the two nations. The meeting resulted in a joint press conference, where the ministers emphasized the importance of cooperation in areas such as economics, defense, and technology. They also commended Britain's supportive stance on regional conflicts, including those in Gaza, Syria, and Ukraine.

Key Takeaways:

• Hakan Fidan praised Britain's supportive stance on regional conflicts, including Gaza, Syria, and Ukraine, and welcomed London's decision to lift some sanctions on Syria.
• The Turkish Foreign Minister emphasized the importance of ensuring a ceasefire, particularly between Iran and Israel, and in the Gaza Strip, as a top strategic priority.
• The annual trade turnover between Turkey and Great Britain has reached almost $30 billion, with both sides striving to further expand economic ties.
• David Lammy highlighted the strength of Turkish-British relations and pointed to a potential free trade agreement that could bring mutual economic benefits of up to £28 billion ($38.36 billion).
• The ministers expressed support for peace efforts in the Russian-Ukrainian conflict and the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
• Turkey's efforts to promote peace in the region, including the principle of "two states for two peoples" for the Palestinians, were also commended.

Statistics:

• $30 billion - the annual trade turnover between Turkey and Great Britain.
• £28 billion ($38.36 billion) - the potential mutual economic benefits of a free trade agreement between Turkey and Britain.
• "Coming weeks and months" - the timeframe for negotiations on the Free Trade Agreement between Turkey and Britain.

Sources:

• Xinhua
• State Council News, People's Republic of China
• July 1, Xinhua news wire. regional news
• State Council News.