Turkish Premier Erdogan arrives in Paris

Erdogan will watch the concert "Musenna", a music and dance show that combines European baroque and Ottoman music, which marks the end of nine-month-long "Season of Turkey" activities held to promote Turkish culture in France.

Erdogan will later attend a reception to be held after the concert, together with French Senate President Gerard Larcher.

On Wednesday, Erdogan, will meet with President Nicholas Sarkozy over a luncheon at the Elysee Palace and have separate meetings with French Parliament Speaker Bernard Accoyer, Senate President Gerard Larcher and Prime Minister Francois Fillon.

Erdogan's meetings will focus on bilateral relations, Turkey's EU bid, and other regional and international issues, diplomats said.

Erdogan will also meet with executives of several leading French companies at the French Businessmen's Association (MEDEF) and he will deliver a speech to Turkish people living in France.

In a statement on Friday, France said it wanted to promote economic ties with Turkey with Erdogan's visit.

French Foreign Ministry said that new cooperation projects in the areas of transportation, energy and infrastructure would be discussed during Erdogan's visit.

France which wants to promote economic ties with Turkey said it wanted to boost the trade volume between the two countries to 15 billion Euro by 2012 from the current 10 billion Euro level.

The ministry said "Erdogan's visit which aimed at enhancing relations between the two countries, created an opportunity for discussion of topics like Afghanistan, Middle East and Iran".


/Anadolu Agency/