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BEIJING, Oct. 19 (Xinhuanet) -- German Chancellor Angela Merkel has hailed progress in helping Turkey deal with the refugee crisis and vowed to push forward its long-stalled EU membership bid, as Slovenia warned it would have to slow a rising influx of migrants.
"Turkey and European Union agree that a closer cooperation is needed to tackle these problems. There is an agreement on accelerating Turkey's membership talks as well as visa liberation and readmission agreements," Merkel said.
"I stressed that we need to act together against terrorist organisations. We have also talked about Turkey's accession talks with the European Union," said Tayyip Erdogan, Turkish President.
The European Union wants Turkey to do more to tighten its border security and help contain the historic influx of Syrians and others escaping conflict, persecution and poverty. In return, Ankara wants greater recognition for its role in hosting over two million Syrian refugees, an increase in financial help and an acceleration of its stuttering drive for EU membership.
Talks between Turkey and Germany indicates that officials were making progress towards a deal on cooperation, although neither suggested a final agreement had been reached.
(Source: CNTV.cn)
