Turkish Culture & Tourism Minister Ertugrul Gunay held bilateral meetings with Brazil's culture and tourism ministers within the scope of his formal visit to that country.

Culture & Tourism Ministry stated on Thursday that Gunay, during his meeting with Brazilian Culture Minister Juca Ferreira on Wednesday, discussed development of cultural relations between Turkey and Brazil, functioning of cultural cooperation agreement which was signed in 1996, Turkish Airlines' Istanbul-Sao Paulo direct flights which began in April 2009, Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan's scheduled visit to Brazil between May 26 and 29, and Brazil's holding cultural activities in Turkey within the scope of 2010 Istanbul European Capital of Culture.

Gunay and Ferreira also discussed the contribution of opening Culture & Promotion Undersecretariat in Brazil to tourism and cultural relations between the two countries.

Gunay also held a meeting with Brazilian Tourism Minister Luiz Baretto Filho on March 22. The two ministers decided to set up a "tourism joint committee" and hold its first meeting in Turkey during Filho's visit.


AA