Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Abul Gheit will head to Ankara for a two-day visit starting 21 November, ministry spokesperson Hossam Zaki said. The visit constitutes the third round of recent strategic dialogue sessions between Egypt and Turkey that aim to hash out cooperation expansion. Abul Gheit will meet with Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyep Erdogan and Foreign Minister Ahmed Dawood Oglu. He also intends to deliver a message from President Hosni Mubarak to Turkish President Abdullah Gul. Abul Gheit plans to discuss with PM Erodgan the launch of a supreme council for strategic cooperation between two countries. The talks will focus on strengthening political relations and expanding commercial exchange, Zaki said, who added that Turkish companies are showing interest in Egyptian investment. The trade balance between two countries, according to Zaki, reached almost US$ three million in 2009. The two countries are striving to reach US$ five million in 2011, Zaki added. The diplomatic session will also discuss the Egyptian-Turkish bilateral vision towards issues of regional and international importance such as the Palestinian-Israeli negotiations, Iraq, the Sudanese referendum, Lebanese developments, Afghanistan, Iran's nuclear program, the Balkans, Euro-Mediterranean cooperation in the light of postponing Union for the Mediterranean summit, and several other international economic and political issues. Zaki said Abul Gheit will also inspect the Egyptian consulate restoration efforts.
