UPDATE - Turkish foreign minister meets UK counterpart in London

UPDATE ADDS MORE DETAILS, INCLUDING REMARKS FROM TURKISH FOREIGN MINISTER FIDAN AND BRITISH FOREIGN SECRETARY LAMMY, MINOR EDITS

By Serdar Dincel

ISTANBUL (AA) - Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan on Wednesday met with British Foreign Secretary David Lammy in London, the Turkish Foreign Ministry said.

The meeting came during Fidan’s first bilateral official visit to the UK.

“Türkiye and the UK have been benefiting from a long-standing strategic relations. Our objective is to continue to increase the level of cooperation between our countries," Fidan said ahead of the meeting.

He added that cooperation between the two countries extends across many areas, including strong commercial ties.

Fidan also expressed confidence that their meeting would contribute to the discussions on updating the existing Free Trade Agreement between the two countries.

“Lammy, for his part, said: “The United Kingdom and Türkiye have an indispensable relationship as NATO allies at two ends of Europe."

He also extended “full solidarity” with Türkiye over the terrorist attack that took place on the Turkish Aerospace Industries’ headquarters in Ankara on Oct. 23, and extended his condolences to those who lost their loved ones in the attack.

He also highlighted that the two countries have "immense" trade relations, reaching £26 billion ($33.8 billion).

The two foreign ministers also underlined that developments in the Middle East, including Gaza, Lebanon, and Sudan will also be on the agenda of their meeting.

This visit by Fidan builds on recent diplomatic exchanges, after Lammy's visit to Türkiye as shadow foreign secretary on March 4, and former Foreign Secretary David Cameron's visit on Jan. 26.