Arab News | 27 October 2009
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia and Turkey will hold talks to map out a future strategy for cooperation in the agriculture sector on Tuesday. The talks, to be held within the framework of a major initiative launched by Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah to ensure food security, will be led by Minister of Agriculture Fahd Balghunaim, while Turkish Minister of Agriculture and Rural Affairs Mehdi Eker will attend from the Turkish side. Saudi Arabia and Turkey wanted to enhance their relations in the field of agriculture, said Sadik Arslan, charge d affaires at Turkish Embassy, when asked about the talks agenda. Arslan said that Eker and his seven-member entourage were on a three-day official visit to the Kingdom following an invitation extended by Balghunaim. He said that Riyadh and Ankara were keen to explore a new cooperation agenda, especially in the agriculture sector.