ANKARA

Slovakia's Embassy celebrated its birthday as an independent country Wednesday and its 30th anniversary of establishing diplomatic relations with Türkiye.

"Our relations have developed between parliaments and governments in many areas, including trade, economy and science," Ambassador Jan Psenica said at a reception in the Turkish capital of Ankara.

Slovak tourists visiting Türkiye have the chance to get to better know the country's "unique, special and beautiful" culture and history while experiencing the traditional hospitality, said the ambassador. "This also strengthens humanitarian relations between the two nations."

Turkish Deputy Foreign Minister Mehmet Kemal Bozay said the trade volume between the two countries hit $1.9 billion in 2022.

"We are ready to work together to reach the $5 billion trade volume target and increase mutual investments," he added.

Türkiye was one of the first countries to recognize an independent Slovakia following the peaceful dissolution of Czechoslovakia in 1993.

Relations between Türkiye and Slovakia are free from political disputes and maintain a friendly course, according to the Turkish Foreign Ministry.