ANKARA
Turkish Deputy Prime Minister Bulent Arinc hosted a luncheon in the honour of visiting Benin's President Thomas Boni Yayi in the Turkish capital, Ankara.
Speaking before the luncheon, Arinc conveyed Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan's regards and desire to discuss possible mutual efforts to reinforce bilateral relations at both state and governmental levels.
Arinc was standing in for Erdogan who cancelled his intense schedule until the weekend over flu.
"As part of both bilateral and international relations, Africa is now ready to strengthen its mutual richness with Turkey. Turkey is in Benin's heart," Benin's Yayi said.
Among the guests of the dinner were President of Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TIKA) Serdar Cam, Deputy Undersecretary of Turkish Prime Ministry Ibrahim Kalin, President of Turkey-Ghana Inter-Parliamentary Friendship Group Ismail Kasdemir, Deputy Minister of Development Mehmet Ceylan and Turkish Ambassador in Accra Aydin Nurhan.
Benin, a former French colony, is a member of the United Nations, the African Union, and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation.
Gaining full independence from France in 1960, Benin is now ruled by a democratic multi-party government. Yayi serves as the country's president since 2006.
Editing by Mert Bezgin
