Envoy: Brazil, Turkey should expand, boost ties

By Zuhal Demirci and Sinan Dogan

ANKARA (AA) - Turkey and Brazil should expand relations into different areas in order to boost ties, Brazil's Ankara envoy said Friday.

Noting that relations between the two countries dated back to the Ottoman Empire with the coffee trade, Eduardo Riccardo Gradilone told Anadolu Agency that Brazilians began learning more about Turkey with the streaming of Turkish TV series into the country in 2010.

"Brazil used to be export TV series to Turkey, now Turkey exports to Brazil," he said, expressing hope that diplomatic and cultural ties would continue to grow under Brazil's new government.

Gradilone also stressed that Turkey and Brazil could also cooperate in defense and security.

In April, Turkey had participated in the 12th LAAD Defense and Security Exhibition held in Rio de Janeiro.

*Writing by Beyza Binnur Donmez