President Erdoğan: We will continue to stand with the Democratic Republic of the Congo in its development efforts
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan held a joint press conference with President Félix-Antoine Tshisekedi Tshilombo of the Democratic Republic of the Congo following their bilateral and interdelegational talks.
“WE WILL CONTINUE TO ENHANCE OUR RELATIONS WITH AFRICAN COUNTRIES”
“With the communique, action plan and the joint implementation report, adopted during the Türkiye-Africa Summit, we have set a roadmap in our relations with Africa for 2022-2026. We will continue to enhance our relations with African countries on the basis of sincerity, brotherhood and solidarity within this framework. During our talks today, we have reviewed in detail our bilateral relations and cooperation opportunities. We have mutually reaffirmed our will to improve our bilateral cooperation,” President Erdoğan said.
Noting that solidarity in matters of security and the fight against terrorism was maintained with determination, President Erdoğan said: "I thank President Tshisekedi and the authorities of the Democratic Republic of the Congo for their support in our fight against the FETO terrorist organization. We will continue to stand with the government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo in its fight against terrorism. I also would like to offer my condolences for your citizens who lost their lives in the terrorist attack that took place in Ituri on February 1.”
“WE WISH TO DEVELOP COOPERATION IN EDUCATION AND CULTURE THROUGH JOINT PROJECTS”
Voicing their wish to develop cooperation in education and culture through joint projects and underlining the support of the Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TIKA) to the development efforts of the Democratic Republic of Congo, President Erdoğan said: "The Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TIKA) continues its support for the development efforts of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The TIKA is conducting various projects, including vocational training, healthcare, support for administrative and social infrastructure and school renewal. We will continue to stand with the Democratic Republic of the Congo in its development efforts. We have strengthened the contractual basis of our bilateral relations with the agreements that were signed just now. Thus we have demonstrated our shared will to develop our cooperation.”
“WE ARE ADVANCING TOWARDS OUR BILATERAL TRADE GOAL OF $250 MILLION”
Highlighting the strengthening economic and trade relations between Türkiye and the Democratic Republic of the Congo in accordance with the momentum achieved in political relations, President Erdoğan said: “We have nearly doubled our bilateral trade volume, which was $36.5 million in 2018 before the pandemic. We are advancing towards our trade goal of $250 million. I believe we will inshallah achieve this goal as soon as possible. Mr. President and I agree on better utilizing such already-existing mechanisms as the Joint Economic Commission and the Business Council with the aim of elevating our commercial cooperation up to the desired level.”
“With the support of the authorities of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, President Tshisekedi in particular, we encourage Turkish businesspeople to boost their investments,” President Erdoğan said. “We have conducted the necessary work regarding the donation of COVID-19 vaccines, which I announced on the occasion of the Türkiye-Africa Summit. I brought 100 thousand doses on the plane with me. Also, our Ministry of Health will send 1 million doses of Sinovac vaccine and 100 thousand doses of Turkovac vaccine tonight or tomorrow. Before I conclude my remarks, I would like to thank once again to Mr. President and the people of the Democratic Republic of the Congo for their warm hospitality.”
