Sharjah 24 – Reuters: Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan said on Thursday he hopes his visit to Jeddah will herald a new era in ties with "brotherly" Saudi Arabia, as the two countries hold the first high-level visit in years after intense efforts to repair strained ties.
Erdogan's visit, which his office said was at the invitation of Saudi King Salman, marks the culmination of a months-long drive to mend ties.
Speaking to reporters before departing for Jeddah, Erdogan said Thursday's visit was "the manifestation of our common will" to improve ties and strengthen political, military and cultural relations, adding he will meet Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
"On the occasion of my visit, we will review all aspects of Turkey-Saudi Arabia ties," he said, adding it would be mutually beneficial to boost cooperation on areas including health, energy, food security, defence industry, and finance.
"With common efforts, I believe we will carry our ties even beyond where they were in the past," he said.
A senior Turkish official said there was a "very positive" atmosphere ahead of the trip, adding: "The groundwork is ready so that we can act in unison on trade, investments and regional issues once again."
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