Germany's Merkel to visit Turkey next week

German Chancellor Angela Merkel will visit Turkey on Oct. 16 to discuss bilateral relations and international issues, her spokesman said on Oct. 8.

Speaking at a news conference in Berlin, Steffen Seibert said Merkel will visit Istanbul for talks with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.

"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 the 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 Oct. 21-22.

After 16 years in power, Angela Merkel is preparing to leave active politics 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.