FM Kevin Rudd visited Turkey last Tuesday before traveling to Egypt. While in Ankara, Rudd and Turkish FM Davutoglu held a bilateral meeting and signed a joint action plan to draft a certain framework to improve relations their relations. Davutoglu said he had extensively exchanged views with his counterpart on ways to advance Turkish-Australians relations to greater levels and they had agreed on how to shape relations within a new strategic framework during his talks with Rudd.

Noting that they intend to intensify political dialogue from now on, Davutoglu said they will improve relations between Turkish and Australian businessmen and will work together on joint projects in different regions. He also added that they will reciprocally promote direct flights between the two countries, adding that they will continue talks to ease visa requirements or even abolish them.

Rudd said they have decided to carry relations to a new level and that both countries have open system, open economy and active diplomacy, adding that they will develop a new partnership and there is a potential to do more. He said they will strive to jointly shoulder regional and global problems and will continue political dialogues in bilateral level.

Source : Today's Zaman