Turkish president lands in Qatar on 2nd leg of his Gulf tour
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The Turkish President began his tour in Saudi Arabia on Monday and will end his tour in the United Arab Emirates.
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Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Qatar's Emir Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani speak during a ceremony in Doha, Qatar, December 2, 2015. (AP)
During his 3-nation Gulf visit to bolster regional ties, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan landed in Qatar's capital Doha on Tuesday.
Qatari Deputy Prime Minister, Defense Minister Khalid bin Mohamed Al Attiyah, and other officials welcomed Erdogan, who was accompanied by Cabinet members and other high officials, in Doha.
Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani greeted Erdogan afterward with an official ceremony, which was followed by a close-up meeting.
Before the talks, Erdogan presented to Al Thani a model of Turkey's first locally built car, the Togg, an electric vehicle that has been in the works for years.
Erdogan then drove to the building where they had their one-on-one meeting, with Al Thani driving the Togg.
All elements of bilateral ties were examined during the meetings, and initiatives to further cooperation in numerous sectors, notably the economy, were considered.
During Erdogan's visit, the Turkish and Qatari foreign ministers jointly signed a proclamation commemorating the 50th anniversary of mutual diplomatic ties.
Later that day, Erdogan attended a state banquet in his honor while Emine Erdogan, Turkey's First Lady paid a visit to the Museum of Islamic Art in Doha.
Erdogan Tweeted that "the museum, which hosts one of the largest collections of Islamic art in the world, is one of the symbols of the city with its architecture. With a history of more than 1,400 years, valuable artifacts collected from three continents reveal the diversity of Islamic heritage."
The Turkish President began his tour in Saudi Arabia on Monday and is expected to have his last stop in the United Arab Emirates.
Erdogan's latest trip to Saudi Arabia takes place as Turkey fights a depreciation of its currency and high inflation that have harmed its economy.
He has expressed that he hopes his visit to the nations will strengthen ties and finalize economic arrangements.
In a press conference in Istanbul, before he began his trip, he called the country's relationship with Qatar "excellent" and ongoing for 50 years.
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