ISTANBUL, Nov. 2 (Xinhua) -- Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan pledged on Wednesday to boost cooperation with African countries.
"We are developing long-term cooperation with African countries based on a win-win concept," the president said during the first Turkey-Africa Economy and Business Forum in Istanbul.
He appealed to Turkish companies to increase investments which would contribute to the continent's economic, cultural, touristic and agricultural development.
Turkey's direct investment in sub-Saharan countries reached 3.9 billion U.S. dollars, while its trade volume with the entire continent jumped to 17.5 billion dollars in 2015, according to Erdogan.
The president noted that Turkey aims to increase the number of its diplomatic missions in Africa, currently at 39, to improve cooperation.
In his speech, the Turkish leader also criticized what he called the West's colonial policies toward the Middle East and Africa.
"Turkey and Africa both refused to become colonies or being second-class citizens," said Erdogan.
Drawing attention to terrorism's negative impact on economic development, the president asked African leaders to support Turkey in its fight against Fethullah Gulen's group, a U.S.-based cleric accused of masterminding the failed July coup in Turkey which left 246 people dead.
Gulen's group, which operates a network of schools in Africa and other parts of the world, has been designated as a terrorist organization by Ankara.
