Turkey on Saturday recognized South Sudan as an independent state, the semi-official Anatolia news agency quoted Turkish Development Minister Cevdet Yilmaz as saying.
South Sudan officially became the world's newest state on Saturday. In a referendum in January, 2011, the southern Sudanese people voted overwhelmingly to secede from the north.
Turkish Development Minister Cevdet Yilmaz travelled to South Sudan's capital to attend ceremonies to celebrate the independence of the country, Xinhua quoted Anatolia as reporting Saturday.
"I have handed a letter on Turkey's recognition of South Sudan from our President Abdullah Gul to South Sudanese authorities," Yilmaz was quoted as saying.
"We have had very good relations with Sudan before secession. Now, we will maintain these relations with north Sudan and South Sudan both," said Yilmaz.
In recent years, Turkey has launched an initiative to expand to Africa, said Yilmaz, adding that "Africa offers a great potential. However, it could not be utilized because of fighting and other troubles. Now, I believe South Sudan will offer significant opportunities with its oil, mines and agriculture."
Yilmaz also said that South Sudan was a chance for Turkish investors and urged Turkish businessmen to invest in Africa.