Colombia’s President Juan Manuel Santos traveled to Turkey on Wednesday to strengthen diplomatic relations and continue negotiations to establish Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with the Mediterranean country.
On this trip, Santos will inaugurate the new Colombian embassy in Ankara, and meet with Turkish president Abdullah Gul to sign an investment protection agreement.
The president will then travel to England, where he will meet with Prime Minister David Cameron and Queen Elizabeth II on Monday.
The next day, Santos is expected to give a speech to the British Council on Colombian economic stability, and on the importance of the Victims Law.
Traveling with Santos are Commerce Minister Sergio Diaz-Granados, Environment Minister Frank Pearl, and Chancellor Maria Angela Holguin.
In an effort to strengthen Colombian diplomatic relations worldwide, the Colombian president traveled to Japan and South Korea with his family two months ago.
In addition, the president’s website announced on Wednesday the start of FTA negotiations with Japan and Venezuela. Meanwhile, FTA negotiations with South Korea are almost completed.
The government expects FTA to be reached with the European Union by the first semester of 2012.