I am here with Turkish businessmen to send a message to the world that the investment climate in Yemen is good and that any Turkish investor can come to Yemen and launch a venture efficiently, Turkish President told media, as he landed in the country on Monday.
"Turkey is keen to develop its relations with Yemen, especially in the economic field. Turkey seriously wants to build an industrial city and a Turkish technical and vocational training institute, and it really wants to increase its investments in Yemen," said President Abdullah Gul, the first ever Turkish president to visit Yemen.
President Saleh and Gul held closed-door talks at the Republican Palace in Sana'a that focused on the special relationship between the two countries and ways to strengthen cooperation in all areas, especially in the economic and military fields, Yemen Press Agency reported.
The two leaders discussed ways to expand the bilateral trade and encourage investments as well as ways to strengthen the military cooperation, with a special focus on training of forces including the Coastguard, developing Yemeni military industries and coordination over the fight against terrorism.
Furthermore, they discussed issues of mutual interest, topped by the developments in
Palestine topped by the difficult situation of the Palestinians amid the Israeli settlement expansion and continuous blockade on the Gaza strip.
Ways to coordinate Yemeni and Turkish positions over various issues were brought up.
After the talks, an official summit was held co-chaired by both presidents and attended by senior officials from both countries.
A high-ranking delegation is accompanying Gul, which included Turkish deputy prime minister, ministers of Foreign Affairs, Health and Defense, other senior officials and a number of MPs, journalists, and businessmen.
The two countries stressed expanding the bilateral cooperation, especially in the economic field in areas such as gas, oil and energy as well as encouraging investments.
They also urged to activate all bilateral agreements, mainly signed during previous meeting and talks.
On the margins of the talks, five agreements and an executive protocol were signed.
Among the deals was one on cooperation in the diplomatic field between the Yemen
Diplomatic Institute at the Foreign Ministry and Turkey's Diplomatic Academy at the Foreign Ministry. Other agreements covered cooperation in the fields of defense industries, the electronic governments and media.
Landing in the country on a two-day visit at noon, Gul visited the Turkish tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Sana'a and laid a floral wreath.
Before the talks, Gul Highlighted the deep-rooted Turkish-Yemeni relations, saying Turkey and Yemen are eager to further develop their ties and cooperation in all areas.
There are many issues on the agenda topped by economic topics and educational
cooperation as well as providing assistance to Yemen, he said, adding that Turkey likes Yemen developed and stands by Yemen's unity, stability and prosperity.
"We should work together to help Yemen develop and its abilities improve. Any move Yemen takes to promote democracy and economic reforms is very important because such as step has effects on the region's stability," he added.