London Mayor Sadiq Khan spent Friday, 13 November, in Istanbul on what he described as the first official visit to Türkiye by a mayor of London, combining meetings with the city’s business community with stops at the historic peninsula and at Galatasaray’s stadium.
Khan came to Istanbul to develop trade and investment ties with Türkiye, Habertürk and Anadolu Agency (AA) reported. Before arriving in Istanbul he had attended the UN climate conference COP31 in Antalya, according to AA and a statement published by Galatasaray.
Business meeting at the Istanbul Chamber of Commerce
Khan took part in a Türkiye–London trade and investment meeting hosted by the Istanbul Chamber of Commerce (İTO) and its chairman Şekib Avdagiç, İstanbul Ticaret Gazetesi, the chamber’s newspaper, and AA reported.
Khan called Istanbul "the second most beautiful city in the world", a remark reported by both AA and Kobi Postası.
Friday prayer, Grand Bazaar and Galatasaray
Khan performed Friday prayers at the Sultanahmet Mosque, widely known as the Blue Mosque, and then toured the Grand Bazaar (Kapalıçarşı), Habertürk and Haberler.com reported. He was accompanied by Deputy Culture and Tourism Minister Coşkun Yılmaz and Fatih Mayor Mehmet Ergün Turan, according to both outlets.
In the evening, Galatasaray president Dursun Özbek hosted Khan and London Deputy Mayor Mete Çoban at the club’s RAMS Park stadium, the club and AA reported. Head coach Okan Buruk and players İlkay Gündoğan and Gabriel Sara were also present, and gifts were exchanged.
Khan, who supports Liverpool, said he had followed Galatasaray since his boyhood idol Graeme Souness joined the Istanbul club, according to Galatasaray’s statement and AA. He described the stadium visit as his favourite part of the trip, both sources said.
Sources
- Londra Belediye Başkanı Khan, Fatih’i gezdi (Habertürk)
- Londra Belediye Başkanı Khan, İTO’da 29 milyar sterlinlik ticaret hacmini vurguladı (Haberler.com / AA)
- İTO Başkanı Şekib Avdagiç, Londra Belediye Başkanı Sadiq Khan’ı ağırladı (İstanbul Ticaret Gazetesi)
- Londra Belediye Başkanı Sadiq Khan, İTO’da İstanbul iş dünyasıyla bir araya geldi (Kobi Postası)
- Başkan Dursun Aydın Özbek, Londra Belediye Başkanı Sadiq Khan’ı ve beraberindeki heyeti ağırladı (Galatasaray.org)
- Londra Belediye Başkanı Sadık Khan 30 yıllık Galatasaraylı çıktı (NTV / AA)
Photo: Moonik / CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
