Malabo, Equatorial Guinea, Nov 2014: Under the theme of “New Model of Partnership for the Strengthening of Sustainable Development and Integration”, Heads of State and Government from Africa and Turkey will meet at the Second Africa –Turkey Summit to strengthen their future cooperation on the 21st of November. To prepare for the summit, a meeting of senior officials meeting was held today at Sipopo Conference Center, Malabo, Equatorial Guinea.
Organized by the African Union Commission and the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the three-day summit aims to forge the two sides’ future cooperation and further develop their strategic ties. The African and Turkish governments will consider the Joint Implementation Plan of Africa –Turkey Partnership 2015-2018, and discuss the way forward regarding the proposed key priority projects of plan.
Speaking at the opening session of the high officials’ meeting, Mr. Erastus Mwencha, Deputy Chairperson of the African Union Commission said that Africa and Turkey have developed a strategic partnership that creates a framework for cooperation at all levels. “Our gathering here today will develop business opportunities and forge partnership between Africa and Turkey”, he added .
The Deputy Chairperson stressed the need for working together in areas of mutual interest between the people of Africa and Turkey, and to be the first beneficiaries of the this cooperation, which started with the 1st Africa- Turkey Summit which was held in Istanbul in 2008.
Ambassador Hamadi Meimou of the Islamic Republic of Mauritania and Chairperson of the African Union Permanent Representatives Committee (PRC) highlighted in his opening remarks, that on the African side , the general belief is that more needs to be done and achieved regarding the implementation of this partnership at the continental level.Nevertheless, he said it is encouraging to note the importance of this partnership between the African countries and Turkey at the bilateral level, he said.
Speaking earlier, Ambassador Ali Kemal Aydin, Deputy Under Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Turkey in his opening remarks emphasized that his country and Africa will conduct a useful exchange of ideas and achieve fruitful results that will pave the way for the adoption by the Foreign Ministers of the "Malabo Declaration on Africa Turkey Partnership", as well as the joint implementation plan of the Africa-Turkey partnership 2015-2108.
This Summit is a follow-up to the first Turkey-Africa Cooperation Summit, which was held in Istanbul, in August 2008. The Summit adopted “The Istanbul Declaration on Turkey-Africa Partnership: Cooperation and Solidarity for a Common Future” and “Cooperation Framework for Turkey-Africa Partnership”, spelling out the areas of cooperation between the two parties. It also established a follow-up mechanism.
The Second Summit is expected to follow up on the Africa-Turkey partnership projects and to further consolidate and develop areas of cooperation at all levels and in all areas; examine the progress of the partnership, and discuss common achievements as well as implementation challenges. It is also expected to map out the future direction of the partnership based on the lessons learnt.
At the end of its deliberations, the senior officials’ session will submit its report to the ministerial meeting for adoption on 20th November.
AMT/
