Turkey, S. Arabia agree to promote bilateral cooperation

Turkey and Saudi Arabia have reached agreements to promote bilateral cooperation by adopting precautionary measures to prevent "arbitrary" practices in investments and to conduct regular political negotiations, Turkish daily Zaman reported Thursday.

The agreements were reached during Saudi King Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz al-Saud's three-day visit to Turkey, the first visit by the Saudi monarch in 40 years.

King Abdullah, who arrived in Ankara on Tuesday, held talks with top level Turkish statesmen during his 22-hour visit in the Turkish capital, before traveling to Turkey's largest city of Istanbul for further contacts.

The talks focusing on economic relations were met with a suggestion by the Saudi king to conduct "more bilateral trading", said media reports, adding the two side have signed six deals during the king's visit.

An agreement signed between the two sides includes measures against possible obstacles likely to occur in future economic relations.

"Likely-to-happen arbitrary policies, including nationalization of ventures, will be prevented through the signing of this agreement," Turkish diplomatic sources told reporters.

According to the signed deals, Saudi researchers will be permitted to access Turkey's Ottoman archives more conveniently to research the history of Saudi Arabia, once part of the Ottoman Empire.

Saudi and Turkish diplomats will also hold regular talks to discuss issues relating to the two countries, focusing on regional problems in particular.

On Monday, Turkish Daily News quoted Saudi Ambassador to Turkey Mohammed Al-Hussaini as saying that the two countries will sign seven agreements including deals on duties, trade and transport during Abdullah's visit.

Some 400 delegates including several members of the royal family, ministers, high-ranking officials and a large number of Saudi businessmen will accompany the king, according to the newspaper.

King Abdullah has already visited China, India, Malaysia and Pakistan since he ascended to the Saudi throne on Aug. 1, 2005.

Source: Xinhua