Burundi Parliament Speaker Seeks Close Ties With Turkey

Burundi's parliament speaker on Wednesday called on the parliaments of Turkey and Burundi to forge closer relations each other.



Meeting with Turkish Parliament Speaker Ismail Kahraman in the capital Ankara, Pascal Nyabenda said his country places great importance on improving economic ties with Turkey.



Nyabenda said economic relations between Turkey and Africa have been steadily improving over the last 20 years.



On the Turkey-Africa joint implementation plan for 2015-2019, Nyabenda said its aim is "to establish a partnership based on win-win relations."



"I hope that a protocol for cooperation between Turkey and Burundi's parliaments is signed, so relations between the two countries grow closer," he said.



Nyabenda added that Turkey's national flag carrier Turkish Airlines plans to open an office in his country.



Turkish Airlines flies to over 300 destinations worldwide with its fleet of 329 passenger and cargo aircraft.



Burundi is one of the poorest countries in the world, according to the World Bank. Nearly 65 percent of its population lives below the poverty line. -