New Delhi, May 1

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Monday reviewed the status of bilateral ties, including in key areas of security and trade, and discussed regional and international issues of mutual concern.

Ways to strengthen bilateral cooperation in the area of counter-terrorism, India’s NSG membership bid and the regional security scenario were among key issues that were understood to have been discussed during the Modi-Erdogan meeting, according to official sources.

“New impetus to a multifarious relationship. Prime Minister Narendra Modi receives President Erdogan at Hyderabad House,” MEA Spokesperson Gopal Baglay tweeted.

Earlier, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj called on the visiting President.

“Important engagement for the State guest. External Affairs Minister @SushmaSwaraj calls on President Erdogan, welcomes him before delegation level talks,” Baglay said.

This is Erdogan’s first foreign tour after winning a controversial referendum on April 16 that further consolidated his executive powers.

The Turkish leader arrived here on Sunday on a two-day visit.

Erdogan was today accorded a ceremonial welcome at the Rashtrapati Bhavan here.

President Pranab Mukherjee and Prime Minister Modi received Erdogan. He was then accorded the ceremonial guard of honour at the forecourt of the Rashtrapati Bhavan.

Erdogan also visited the Raj Ghat to pay tribute to Mahatma Gandhi.

Apart from his wife Emine Erdogan, the Turkish President is accompanied by senior Cabinet ministers and a 150-member business delegation that will take part in a meeting of the India-Turkey Business Forum.

India-Turkey trade stands at $6.4 billion. Ankara wants a Free Trade Agreement and a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement to bridge the deficit with New Delhi.

His last visit to India was in 2008 when he was the Prime Minister.

Mukherjee visited Turkey in 2013. Modi also met Erdogan on the sidelines of the G20 Summit in Antalya in 2015. — Agencies