Turkey eyes enhanced trade, defense with Philippines
Turkish foreign minister meets his Philippine counterpart Teodoro Locsin as part of ASEAN meeting
Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu (R) and Philippines' Secretary for Foreign Affairs Teodoro Locsin Jr. (L) shake hands during their meeting within 52nd Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Foreign Ministers' Meeting in Bangkok, Thailand on July 30, 2019. ( Fatih Aktaş - Anadolu Agency )
ISTANBUL
Turkey is looking to increase trade volume and defense industry cooperation with the Philippines, said the country’s foreign minister on Tuesday.
Mevlut Cavusoglu held bilateral talks with his Philippine counterpart Teodoro Locsin Jr as part of the 52nd Foreign Ministers' Meeting of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in Thailand’s capital of Bangkok.
In a tweet, Cavusoglu said: “Started bilaterals during #ASEAN w/FM Teodoro Locsin Jr. of the Philippines."
"On 70th anniversary of #Turkey-#Philippines diplomatic relations, aim to increase trade volume&defense industry cooperation. Will continue contributing to the Philippines peace process," he added.
ASEAN was formed in 1967 by Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore and Thailand in Bangkok and was later joined by five other countries.
Turkey was granted the status of Sectoral Dialogue Partner in 2017.
