Asia accounts for over 40 pct of global economic output: Turkish FM

ANKARA – Anadolu Agency

Asia, a continent with the world's 21 largest cities, accounts for more than 40 percent of global economic output, Turkey's foreign minister said on May 1.

"Asia is returning to be a center for global economic activities,” Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu said at the Asia Cooperation Dialogue's foreign ministers meeting in Doha, Qatar.

He added: “It has become the main growth engine of the world.”

Referring to recent terror attacks in New Zealand and Sri Lanka, he said: "There should be no distinction between terrorist groups, and we need to address root causes of terrorism and extremism."

He went on to say that regional cooperation was crucial to achieve inclusive economic growth, sustainable development and social justice.

Çavuşoğlu stressed Turkey became part of the Asia Cooperation Dialogue and other forums “to maximize the potential of Asia and to address issues that affect daily lives.”

He added that to increase trade volume efficient transport networks and energy infrastructure were crucial.

“In the light of increasing trade volume, developing secure and efficient transport networks will have significant impact in generating economic rings.

“We should focus on establishing a regional energy infrastructure network and developing renewable energy resources and promoting energy efficiency programs.”

He also stressed the power of cultural exchange and tourism.

“As someone born and raised in Turkey's Mediterranean part, our main tourism region, I mean Antalya, I know first-hand how tourism and cultural exchange positively contribute to prosperity and stability,” he said.

Çavuşoğlu later met his Iranian counterpart Javad Zarif and Qatari counterpart Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani.

Meanwhile, Turkey will chair the Asia Cooperation Dialogue, the foreign ministry announced on April 30.

“Turkey will assume the Chairmanship of the Asia Cooperation Dialogue in September 2019 for one year,” the ministry said in a statement.

The Asia Cooperation Dialogue was established as an intergovernmental forum in 2002 to develop cooperation between Asian countries and improve the competitiveness of Asia at the global level.