UPDATE - Turkish president greeted by Spanish premier with ceremonial welcome

UPDATES WITH MORE DETAIL

By Mehmet Tosun

MADRID (AA) - Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez on Thursday officially welcomed Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who is in Madrid for the Eighth Türkiye-Spain Intergovernmental Summit.

Once Erdogan and Sanchez had taken up their positions, the ceremony at Moncloa Palace, the premier’s official residence, started with the national anthems of both countries.

President Erdogan then saluted the honor guard.

Erdogan and Sanchez shook hands, posed for the press, and introduced their delegations to each other.

Following the ceremony, Erdogan and Sanchez proceeded to a bilateral meeting.

On the Turkish side, the ceremony was attended by Family and Social Services Minister Mahinur Ozdemir Goktas, Energy and Natural Resources Minister Alparslan Bayraktar, Treasury and Finance Minister Mehmet Simsek, Industry and Technology Minister Mehmet Fatih Kacir, Agriculture and Forestry Minister Ibrahim Yumakli, and Trade Minister Omer Bolat.

Erdogan also met with Sanchez over a closed-door dinner held at the Moncloa Palace, with delegations from both sides in attendance.