Vice President Ansari calls on Turkish President Abdullah Gul

Ankara, Oct 12 (ANI): Vice President Mohammad Hamid Ansari called on Turkish President Abdullah Gul here on Tuesday.

The two leaders discussed a wide range of issues.

Later ,while talking to mediapersons on Ansari's behalf, India's Secretary for Public Diplomacy Pinak Ranjan Chakravarty said that one of the main highlights of the talks had been to bring in more Turkish investments in India's infrastructural developments.

"The Vice President made the point about infrastructural development in India, and also about the fact that Turkey has played a leading role in infrastructure development, not only within the country, but also in the wider region including the Arab world," he said.

The Vice President mentioned that India will be spending a huge amount of money in the next ten years, almost a trillion US dollars, on infrastructural development and we would welcome Turkish companies who have lots of experience to come. In fact more to come, because there are already some Turkish companies in India in the field of infrastructure developments which also includes pipelines etc," he added.

Chakravarty also said that historical ties between the two nations were also discussed.

"The emphasis was of course on historic ties but how to add more contemporary content to these ties. History is there. In fact there was reference to Vice President 's personal connection with Turkey to his great granduncle who was sent here on a medical mission when Turkey was fighting for its independence. There was this wonderful sight of the speaker handing over a framed picture of VP's great granduncle after the lunch. Then there was a photo opportunity with the picture and everyone around," he added.

Chakravarty also said that the issue of militancy was also discussed between the delegates and a common concern was shared as both India and Turkey has been the victims of it in the recent past.

"We also expressed our deep grief and conveyed condolences to the terrorist attacks that have happened in Turkey and I think in the recent past in Ankara itself. Now that was a mutual concern that we shared. We also conveyed mutual condolences and agrees to step up some of these activities that we can. Because it was quite clear that international cooperation will increase," he added. By Praful Kumar Singh (ANI)