Turkish vice president meets Moldovan premier

By Mumin Altas

ANKARA (AA) - The Turkish vice president and Moldovan prime minister held meetings in Turkey's capital Ankara on Monday.

The talks between Fuat Oktay and Ion Kiku focused on political and economic relations between the two countries, including steps to double bilateral trade from $500 million to $1 billion as soon as possible.

Kiku is accompanying Moldova's President Igor Dodon on a one-day visit to Ankara.

During his visit, Dodon is also due to meet his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan, with the countries expected to sign a number of agreements on cooperation in security and other issues.

Oktay and Kiku discussed adding services and processed agricultural products to a 2016 free trade pact signed for industry.

They also confirmed the contributions of ethnic Turkic people living in the Autonomous Territorial Unit of Gagauzia to the development of relations between the two countries.

Gagauzia is an autonomous region in Moldova that is home to a mostly Gagauz population -- an Orthodox Christian, Turkic community.

* Writing by Erdogan Cagatay Zontur