Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas will pay his first foreign visit to Turkey on Monday, Dec 10, after UN recognition of Palestine as a non-member state late last month, Today’s Zaman reported.

Abbas will pay an official two-day visit to Turkey upon the invitation of Turkish President Abdullah Gül, the President’s Office announced on Saturday.

According to the statement, Abbas will have talks with Turkish officials on Monday in Ankara to discuss “multi-dimensional cooperation between Palestine and Turkey” as well as regional developments.

The statement said the visit will be an opportunity for Turkey to reiterate its support to Palestine, a “friend and brother country of Turkey,” and to “boost exceptional ties between the two countries.”