ANKARA
Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan met with Surinam's Vice President Robert Ameerali, who pays a formal visit in the Turkish capital, Ankara.
"Surinam is among the countries which Turkey wants to develop its relations with as part of our country's Latin American initiative. Our relations with Brazil, ties that would develop with Surinam and Chile alike will boost our influence in the region," Erdogan told a joint press conference with Ameerila after a bilateral meeting.
Erdogan said Surinam's rising profile and developing economy made it an important country in the region, adding the Surinamese support was would help Turkey boost its relations with the Association of Caribbean States.
"You cannot ignore anywhere. If you have a claim to become a big state, you need to reach every corner of the world," Erdogan said.
The Surinamese vice president, on his part, said that Turkey and Surinam had a great potential for cooperation, adding that his country was also willing to develop ties with Turkey.
"I am here today to elevate our relations a notch higher. What we want is a transparent cooperation that we could both benefit," Ameerila said, adding that Turkish businesspeople could explore many opportunities in Surinam.
Prior to the press conference, Erdogan and Ameerali penned a cooperation agreement in commerce and economy between the two countries.
