Closer ties with Turkey

New Zealand and Turkey have agreed to discuss ways to strengthen their economic relationship, says Trade Negotiations Minister Jim Sutton.

Mr Sutton has held two days of talks with Turkish Deputy Prime Minister Abdullatif Sener, focused on enhancing economic links.

"There are definite areas of promise, particularly in services," Mr Sutton said. "Turkey is a country with which we have long had very warm relations, based on our shared sacrifice at Gallipoli. But our economic relationship has lagged behind our political and people-to-people contacts."