Turkey's foreign minister says Turkish-Japanese strategies to open new horizons

ANKARA (A.A) - Turkey's foreign minister said on Friday that Asia strategies Turkey and Japan, two G-20 member states in the east and west of Asia that had dynamic economies, would develop would open new horizons to the continent. Ahmet Davutoglu defined Turkey and Japan as significant strategic partners in all regional issues, and attached vital importance to developing a common Asia strategy with Japan. "Asia strategies Turkey and Japan, two G-20 member states in the east and west of Asia that have dynamic economies, will develop will open new horizons to the continent," Davutoglu told a joint press conference with his Japanese counterpart Koichiro Gemba in Ankara. Davutoglu said Koichiro and he agreed to turn Turkish-Japanese relations into strategic partnership, and establish a mechanism between the ministries. "We will sign an agreement during my visit to Japan in spring," Davutoglu said. Davutoglu said the agreement would envisage ministerial visits, diplomat internship and exchange programs and consultative meetings. The minister said Turkey and Japan planned to sign a framework agreement on economic cooperation and a free trade agreement. Davutoglu said Turkey and Japan were determined to maintain their cooperation in nuclear energy after the Fukishima earthquake, and expressed thought that Japan's experiences would boost this cooperation. Turkey is planning to build two nuclear power plants in the north and south in the next decade.      Turkey and Japan resumed talks on construction of Turkey's second nuclear power plant in Sinop on July 31.      Turkey has been engaged in talks with Japan since last year to build country's second nuclear power plant in the Black Sea coastal province of Sinop in the north. However, talks were interrupted after the massive earthquake that hit Japan last March.      Japan's magnitude-9 earthquake on March 11 caused a massive tsunami that crippled the cooling systems at the Tokyo Electric Power Company's (TEPCO) nuclear plant in Fukushima.