By Adem Salvarcioglu
ANKARA (AA) – Turkey will celebrate the 160th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations with Brazil throughout the year, Turkish Foreign Ministry said on Monday.
In a statement, the ministry said various events will be organized by the Turkish Embassy in Brasilia and Turkish Consulate General in Sao Paulo to mark this “significant anniversary”.
“Turkey is determined to further develop its bilateral relations with Brazil and to strengthen existing ties of friendship through dialogue and cooperation,” the ministry said.
“The Friendship, Residence, Trade and Navigation Agreement establishing diplomatic relations between the Ottoman Empire and the Empire of Brazil was signed in 1858, and political relations began with the Friendship Treaty signed between the Republic of Turkey and the Federative Republic of Brazil in 1927,” the statement said.
“Turkey and Brazil, both emerging countries with dynamic economies and societies, committed to peace and multilateralism, have forged a multidimensional relationship over the course of these years, which they still work to further consolidate,” it added.
“Brazil is Turkey’s first strategic partner and the largest commercial partner in the Latin America and Caribbean (LAC) region.
“In 2006, a High Level Cooperation Commission was established between the two countries. In 2010, Turkey and Brazil inaugurated a new era in their bilateral relations by elevating their relationship to the level of strategic cooperation with the signing of the Action Plan for Strategic Partnership,” the statement said.
It said trade ties between the two countries are increasing with the “strategic cooperation”.
According to the ministry statement, bilateral trade volume reached $3 billion in 2017 while “the number of tourists between the two countries increases regularly, thanks to the Turkish Airlines flights, which connect Istanbul and Sao Paulo since 2009 “.
“In recent years, there has been an increase in dialogue in various international platforms as well, such as the United Nations, the G20 and regional organizations such as MERCOSUR,” it added.
