LUSAKA, Sept. 20 (Xinhua) -- Turkey on Thursday assured Zambia that it is committed to increasing development assistance to the southern African nation.

Turkish foreign minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said the Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TIKA), an government arm through which the government delivers development aid, will soon establish an office in Zambia to increase development cooperation between the two countries.

In remarks delivered when Zambia's Ambassador to Turkey Joseph Chilengi paid a courtesy call on him, the Turkish minister said his government is happy with the current levels of cooperation between the two countries.

"I am also satisfied with the recent political consultative talks which officials from Zambia had with our officials in the ministry and hope that we can have these consultative talks regularly," he said, according to a statement released by the Zambia embassy in Turkey.

According to him, the signing of 12 agreements during a recent visit by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan was a step in the right direction for cementing bilateral relations.

He called for speedy finalization of the agreements to ensure their operationalization.

On his part, the Zambian envoy said the signing of the 12 agreements as well as Turkey's decision to open an office in Zambia is a sign of a blossoming relationship.

He stressed the need for regular consultations at higher levels to discuss issues of mutual interest.