Turkey describes Japan as major economic partner in Asia-Pacific

In a first ministerial level visit in almost 14 years, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu is in Japan for a state visit who has described Japan as Ankara's major economic partner in the Asia-Pacific area.

The Turkish top diplomat is scheduled to meet Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on Thursday.

Japanese companies are engaged in some important role in the completion of important infrastructure projects in Turkey including Sinop Nuclear Power Plant on Turkey's Black Sea coast, construction of Turkish-Japanese Science and Technology University.

Cavusoglu is on a two-day official visit to Japan and his remarks came after his meeting with Japanese counterpart Fumio Kishida in Tokyo to discuss bilateral relations, and regional and global issues.

"Japan is our biggest economic partner in the Asia-Pacific region," Cavusoglu said during a joint press conference with Kishida after the meeting.

On the occasion, the Japanese Foreign Minister welcomed Cavusoglu's visit and said that they would continue to develop a multi-tiered cooperation between the two countries.

Cavusoglu met with a delegation of business representatives under the chairmanship of the chief executive officer of Mitsubishi Electric Corporation, Kenichiro Yamanishi, in Tokyo.

He later participated in a round table meeting with the representatives of travel agencies to develop tourism opportunities between Turkey and Japan.

The minister visited the Yunus Emre Institute, Turkey's non-profit organization which promotes the country's language and culture abroad.

He also visited the Tokyo Mosque and met with representatives of the Turkish and Muslim communities.