Davutoglu: "Turkey's importance in new economic world order is rising"

Turkey's role as an economic bridge for the new world order was the theme of a speech by Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu yesterday at a luncheon at the 25th annual Confederation of Asia-Pacific Chambers of Commerce and Industry (CACCI) Conference. "Turkey has significant contributions to make to the new world order," Davutoglu told his audience in Istanbul, adding, "The new economic world order requires safe transit routes to the markets of Europe." Evoking the idea of a new Silk Road, Davutoglu said, "With completion (in 2013) of the Marmaray Project, which is a $2.5 billion project that will connect Istanbul's Asian and European sides via an undersea commuter train line, Turkey will connect Beijing to the markets of Europe." He added, "We have to work towards a fair new world order," warning of the danger when not all regions are able to enjoy growing wealth.