PM Modi to hold delegation level talks with Turkish President today

Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan was given ceremonial reception at Rashtrapati Bhawan in New Delhi this morning. Mr. Erdogan was received by the President Pranab Mukherjee and the Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the ceremonial reception. Later, Mr Erdogan laid wreath at Mahatma Gandhi's Samadhi at Raj Ghat. 

The visiting dignitary will hold delegation level talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi today. A number of agreements are expected to be signed in several areas after the talks. The Turkish President is accompanied by senior cabinet ministers and a 150-member business delegation that will take part in a meeting of the India-Turkey Business Forum.

Mr Erdogan will also meet President Pranab Mukherjee at Rashtrapati Bhawan. External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj will also call on the



Turkish President. Key bilateral and regional issues, including India's NSG membership bid and ways to strengthen cooperation in counter-terrorism and trade are expected to be discussed during his visit. 

India-Turkey economic and commercial cooperation constitutes an important dimension of the bilateral relationship. Trade has increased significantly in the preceding decade and a half.Bilateral relations have been strengthened by the exchange of high level visits of leaders of both countries in recent times. These include visits by President Pranab Mukherjee to Turkey in 2013 and External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj's working visit in 2015.

This is Mr Erdogan's first foreign visit after winning a referendum in his country earlier this month which gave him more executive powers as President.