ANKARA, Nov. 21 (Xinhua) -- Turkish President Abdullah Gul said on Friday that improvement of relations among Turkic-speaking countries would contribute to the region and world peace, the semi-official Anatolia news agency reported.

    Gul made the remarks while attending the inauguration of the Parliamentary Assembly, which is founded by the Turkic-Speaking Countries Parliament Speakers' Conference held in Istanbul's Dolmabahce Palace on Friday.

    "The Turkic-speaking countries play a significant geopolitical role in economic and political life in the world," said Gul, adding that "we should work in solidarity to make contribution to regional peace and fight against any possible threat."

    Noting the improvement of relations among Turkic-speaking countries in recent years, the president said that "there are important developments in all fields, mutual visits have taken place at all levels."

    "Today's conference is a solid proof that the relations among the governments of Turkic-speaking countries have turned into an institutionalized body, the Parliamentary Assembly," said Gul.

    Apart from Turkey, five countries in the region house considerable Turkic-speaking communities, including Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan and Turkmenistan, said the report.