Turkey, Japan aim for economic partnership deal by 2020

By Zuhal Demirci

NAGOYA, Japan/ANKARA (AA) - Turkey and Japan aim to finalize negotiations on an economic partnership deal by the end of 2019, the Turkish foreign minister announced Saturday.

Mevlut Cavusoglu said during the G20 Foreign Ministers' Meeting in Nagoya, Japan that the two countries aimed to announce the Japan-Turkey Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) by the end of the year.

Cavusoglu said he had a "fruitful" meeting with his Japanese counterpart, Motegi Tosimitsu, and that the two discussed bilateral relations with a special focus on the trade agreement.

He added that the sides also agreed on a technical cooperation deal between their respective state-run aid agencies, the Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TIKA) and Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).

"God willing, our trade volume will grow larger and become more balanced with the Economic Partnership Agreement," said Cavusoglu.

Cavusoglu went on to say that he would visit Qatar from Japan, where the Turkish delegation, led by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, will take part in the Strategic Committee Meeting with Qatar.

Asked about Turkey's agenda in the NATO Leaders Meeting slated for Dec. 3-4, Cavusoglu said Ankara would share its vision on the enlargement of the organization and how it should adapt itself to the new threats.

He highlighted that Turkey, Germany, France and the U.K would have a four-way meeting during the NATO gathering, adding that issues on Syria and Europe would be discussed.

On bilateral relations Turkey's relations with other countries, Cavusoglu said: "Whether it be with the U.S. or other countries, we always want to utilize diplomacy to reach an agreement through negotiation on any subject.''

"However, we never accept imposition, and won't allow anyone to interfere with our area of sovereignty [...] We can hold discussions at any time, on any subject, on the basis of respect for sovereign rights," he said.

*Writing by Ali Murat Alhas