Türkiye and South Africa’s shared imaginative and prescient of worldwide points performs an vital position within the development of the 2 nations’ relations, says Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu.
(AA)
The way forward for cooperation between Türkiye and South Africa is shiny owing to their historic, cultural, and shared values and international imaginative and prescient, the Turkish overseas minister has stated.
“We will continue to be in unity and solidarity with South Africa to generate peace, stability and prosperity in our regions and beyond,” Mevlut Cavusoglu wrote in an opinion piece Tuesday for South Africa’s IOL news website.
Cavusoglu is at the moment on a five-nation Africa tour which started on Sunday along with his first cease in South Africa, the place he visited the Nurul Hamidiye Mosque in Cape Town, named after Sultan Abdulhamid II. The mosque was renovated by the Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TIKA).
He additionally visited the Tana Baru Cemetery, the place the tomb of Ottoman Muslim scholar Abu Bakr Effendi is positioned. Cavusoglu additionally formally inaugurated the Turkish Consulate General in Cape Town.
On Monday he visited the grave of the final Ottoman Consul General Mehmet Remzi Bey at Braamfontein Cemetery in Johannesburg.
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Türkiye’s Cavusoglu begins five-nation Africa tour to spice up ties
Just and environment friendly international order
Cavusoglu stated Türkiye and South Africa’s shared imaginative and prescient of worldwide points performs an vital position within the development of their relations.
He stated Türkiye shares the identical expectations as South Africa in the direction of a simply and environment friendly international order primarily based on efficient multilateralism together with a structural reform of the UN system to ensure Africa’s voice is heard by the worldwide neighborhood.
“Being members of the G-20, Türkiye and South Africa have a historical responsibility, derived from the lessons learnt through their historical struggles, to defend and spread the spirit of peace, respect and cooperation across their regions and globally,” Cavusoglu wrote.
Conflict resolution
He said South Africa has been a pioneer for the peaceful resolution of conflicts and made peace diplomacy in Africa. Likewise, Türkiye, with its enterprising and humanitarian foreign policy, has become a brand in mediation and facilitation.
Cavusoglu said Türkiye’s efforts in the war in Ukraine is the most recent example. “By securing the Istanbul Grain Deal, we ensured the uninterrupted circulate of grain and fertilizer, particularly to Africa.”
He said Türkiye is also a reliable and principled development partner for South Africa, where TIKA has been instrumental in development cooperation projects all over the country, reaching rural communities in all nine of the country’s provinces.
TIKA, Türkiye’s development aid agency, has so far completed 50 projects since 2015, including some 20 projects in 2022 alone.
Cavusoglu also said the Yunus Emre Institute in Johannesburg – Turkish Cultural Center – established in 2017 has brought the peoples of the two countries together through language courses, conferences, and exhibitions.
The Turkish Maarif Foundation, which has had an office in Johannesburg since 2018, last year also opened the doors of its first school in Johannesburg.
“I’m comfortable to announce that Maarif will open its second college in Cape Town this 12 months,” he stated, including that the launch of Maarif Turkish Studies Center at Pretoria University will serve to deepen widespread data and encourage teachers to do research in each nations.
Largest commerce companion
He additionally stated Turkish Airlines, which has a footprint in 41 nations and 62 locations in Africa, has been instrumental in boosting vacationer numbers between Turkiye and South Africa, which reached a brand new excessive in 2022 of 90,000 guests as South African and Turkish folks uncover the beauties and alternatives in one another’s nation.
On Tuesday, Naledi Pandor, South Africa’s minister of worldwide relations and cooperation, will host Cavusoglu within the capital Pretoria for political consultations.
The Department of International Relations and Cooperation stated in an announcement that Cavusoglu’s go to is anticipated to reinforce political and financial relations between the 2 nations and deepen understanding of regional and multilateral points.
South Africa is Turkiye’s largest commerce companion in Sub-Saharan Africa. Their commerce quantity stood at solely $457 million in 2003, however reached a document excessive of $3 billion by the tip of 2022. This represents a 50 p.c improve from final 12 months, and a comparatively well-balanced account.
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How Türkiye constructed ties with the African continent over 23 years
Source: AA
