October 03, 2017•Update: October 03, 2017
By Sinan Uslu
ANKARA
President Recep Tayyip Erdogan will pay an official visit to Tehran on Wednesday to discuss bilateral relations as well as regional and global issues, according to the president's press office.
The visit comes upon the invitation of Iranian President Hassan Rouhani, a statement on Tuesday said.
During the visit, Erdogan is scheduled to meet his Iranian counterpart and the country's religious leader Ayatollah Khamenei.
The leaders are expected to have talks over current regional and international issues, and in particular Iraq and Syria, the statement said.
Erdogan and Rouhani will also co-chair the fourth meeting of Turkey-Iran High Level Cooperation Council.
The first HLCC meeting was held in Turkish capital Ankara on June 9, 2014, when Erdogan and Rouhani emphasized the importance of improving economic and commercial relations "which will further the well-being of the peoples of their region and contribute to the improvement of regional stability."
On Monday, Turkish Chief of General Staff Gen. Hulusi Akar was received at the presidential palace in Tehran. He also met his Iranian counterpart, Maj. Gen. Mohammad Bagheri.
The two countries agreed that cooperation between the Turkish and Iranian armed forces should be strengthened in the areas of human trafficking, drug trafficking, and ensuring regional security.
They also reached a consensus on the fight against terrorism and border security.
Wednesday's visit aims to develop political dialogue and cooperation with Iran with which Turkey enjoys "good neighborly relations, and deep-rooted historical and cultural ties".
Rouhani had last visited Turkey on April 16, 2016.
Reporting by Sinan Uslu; Writing by Ayse Humeyra Atilgan
