Erdogan pledges strong trade and political cooperation with Egypt

Egypt and Turkey will be the "bright faces of the region," Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Tuesday, during a visit aimed at strengthening ties with Egypt through increasing investments and political cooperation between Ankara and Cairo. "I think that the two nations will be the bright faces of the region," Erdogan said after his meeting with his Egyptian counterpart Essam Sharaf. The Turkish premier's three-day visit to Cairo is part of an Arab tour that will also take him to Libya and Tunisia. Erdogan received a warm welcome at Cairo airport when he arrived late Monday, according to a report of the German Press Agency "DPA". He also addressed the Arab Foreign Ministers During a 30-minute speech at the Arab League, he was interrupted several times by the applause from foreign ministers. Addressing the ministers at the League's headquarters in Cairo, Erdogan called on Arab states to carry out the (necessary) reforms. "We should be resilient at this moment where history is being written," he added. Erdogan addressed the Arab League Ministerial Council's session after his meeting with Field Marshal Mohammad Hussein Tantawi, Chairman of the Egyptian Armed Forces Council and Defense Minister during which they discussed political and economic cooperation. On Tuesday, the Egyptian and Turkish premiers also signed an agreement to increase trade from the current $3 billion to $5 billion. Turkey will also work towards increasing its investments in Egypt from $1.5 billion dollars to $5 billion . The two countries also signed several agreements related to electricity, natural resources, oil, tourism, education, media, culture and sports, the Egyptian cabinet announced.