![German Chancellor Angela Merkel in Berlin, Germany on 16 December 2020 [Abdulhamid Hoşbaş/Anadolu Agency]](https://i0.wp.com/d2.middleeastmonitor.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/20201216_2_45891347_60688247.jpg?fit=920%2C613&ssl=1)
German Chancellor Angela Merkel will visit Turkey on 16 October to discuss bilateral relations and international issues, her spokesman said today.
Speaking at a news conference in Berlin, Steffen Seibert said Merkel will visit Istanbul for talks with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
“Turkey is a very important, close partner for us,” he said, adding that the two leaders will discuss a wide range of international and regional issues, including EU-Turkey cooperation on migration management and refugee protection.
Chancellor Merkel’s visit will take place ahead of an EU leaders summit in Brussels on 21-22 October.
After 16 years in power, Angela Merkel is stepping down later this year, but she will remain in her post until a new coalition government is formed.
Merkel’s Christian Democrats (CDU/CSU) narrowly lost the general elections late last month.