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Saudi-Turkish Cooperation Council Revived during Crown Prince’s Visit to Ankara | ASHARQ AL-AWSAT English Archive 2005 -2017
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Saudi King Salman (R) stands next to Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan during a welcoming ceremony upon Erdogan’s arrival in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia December 29, 2015. © Reuters


Ankara – The visit of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Naif bin Abdulaziz to Ankara saw the revival of the Saudi-Turkish Strategic Cooperation Council, which was established in April with the aim to boost economic relations and commercial exchange between the two countries.

The Cooperation Council was established on April 14, during an official visit conducted by the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz to Turkey, where a number of cooperation agreements were signed under the supervision of the Saudi King and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

The Council specializes in bilateral cooperation in the different political, diplomatic and economic fields, as well as issues related to trade and finance, industry, energy and agriculture, in addition to culture, education, security and technology.

Saudi Arabia’s Cabinet approved the creation of the Saudi-Turkish Strategic Cooperation Council on April 11, and assigned the minister of foreign affairs with completing the official arrangements with the Turkish side.

In comments to Asharq al-Awsat newspaper, Zuhal Mansfield, Deputy President of Turkey’s Foreign Economic Relations Council, said that the establishment of the Strategic Cooperation Council was an important step towards the promotion of bilateral relations.

She added that around 800 Saudi companies were currently investing in Turkey, against 200 Turkish companies operating in the Kingdom.

Mansfield said Saudi investors were assuming an important role in the Turkish economic life with investments amounting to around $6 billion.