UPDATE - Turkish premier looks to boost ties with Singapore

UPDATES WITH SINGAPOREAN PRIME MINISTER'S REMARKS

By Sinan Uslu and Mahmut Atanur

SINGAPORE (AA) - Turkey hopes to develop its ties with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) further when Singapore chairs the regional body, Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim said Monday.

Speaking at a joint news conference with his Singaporean counterpart in capital Singapore, Yildirim said his country appreciates the decision made earlier this month to include Turkey in ASEAN’s sectoral dialogue partnership group.

"Singapore played an important role [in Turkey's membership in ASEAN sectoral dialogue partnership group]. Next year, Singapore will chair ASEAN during which we want to develop our relations with ASEAN even more," he said.

He added that a strategic partnership was established between Singapore and Turkey in 2014, and bilateral relations took a new dimension when a free-trade agreement was signed during Premier Lee Hsien Loong's visit to Turkey in the same year.

"Singapore is a source of inspiration with its vision, creative economic model, development level, life standards and its progress," Yildirim said.

He said bilateral trade was continuously increasing since the last 10 years and would accelerate with the free-trade agreement.

He called for exploring cooperation in aviation, tourism, cyber security, information and communications sectors.

"Of course, I would like to express that we are ready to share any kind of our experience in the fight with global terrorism as a country which has paid a very high price due to terror in our region," he added.

Loong appreciated Yildirim's visit to the country.

He said he believed Turkey's membership in ASEAN sectoral dialogue partnership group would ensure the country’s active role in the region.

He also said bilateral relations had deepened following the strategic partnership established in 2014, adding that both sides would benefit hugely from the free-trade agreement.

Yildirim also met President Tony Tan Keng Yam earlier on Monday.