2018 to be milestone in Turkey, Japan ties: Minister

By Deniz Cicek Palabiyik

TOKYO

The year 2018 will be a historical milestone in economic and commercial ties between Turkey and Japan, Economy Minister Nihat Zeybekci said on Tuesday.

Speaking at a reception held at the Turkish Embassy in Tokyo, Nihat Zeybekci said the trade volume between the two countries should rise four or five-folds from its current level of $4.7 billion since it currently did not reflect the friendship between the two nations.

The reception had been organized to mark the first Turkish chicken meat export delivery of 500 tons to Japan.

Zeybekci said he held important meetings with three Japanese ministers, a number of prominent Japanese institutions and business people during his three-day visit to Japan.

"One of the most important agenda of our visit is free-trade agreement between the two countries, which has been maintained since 2014.

"We have completed the eighth of these talks and the ninth will be held in April," he added.