Turkish Foreign Minister to meet Pranab today

New Delhi, Feb 8: Turkish Foreign Minister Ali Babacan will meet his Indian counterpart Pranab Mukherjee here today to explore ways for further strengthening bilateral ties between the two countries.

According to the External Affairs Ministry, several issues including a range of bilateral, regional and multilateral matters of mutual concern will be discussed during the meeting. Babacan is likely to discuss possible civil nuclear cooperation, as his country embarks on the construction of its first nuclear power plant. A bilateral agreement on mutual abolition of visas for holders of diplomatic passports will also be signed.

Later, Babacan will call on Vice President Mohammad Hamid Ansari and United Progressive Alliance Chairperson Sonia Gandhi.

The Foreign Minister will visit Agra before leaving on Saturday.

Babacan, who arrived here on a five-day visit on Wednesday, had attended several programmes in Mumbai and Hyderabad.

Addressing Turkish and Indian entrepreneurs, Babacan had said: "Turkey and India have economies that are growing rapidly. Technological advantages that both countries carry could be turned into areas of economic cooperation."

ANI