Japan-Turkey Relations
Prime Minister Abe attending the opening ceremony of Başakşehir Çam and Sakura City Hospital
1. On Thursday, May 21, 2020, the opening ceremony of Başakşehir Çam and Sakura City Hospital was held in Istanbul, Turkey. The hospital was jointly constructed by Japanese company Sojitz and the Turkish Rönesans Group through a public-private partnership, and Mr. ABE Shinzo, Prime Minister of Japan, attended via teleconference system from 7:25 p.m. for approximately 25 minutes. H.E. Mr. Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, President of the Republic of Turkey, attended in this ceremony and invited Prime Minister Abe.
2. Prime Minister Abe expressed his respect for the Turkish government and the Turkish people for confronting novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) by every measure while stating that he was pleased that the opening of Başakşehir Çam and Sakura City Hospital would contribute to the countermeasures against COVID-19, as well as the medical and health fields of Turkey.
3. President Erdoğan expressed his gratitude to the related people of Turkey and Japan for their work on the construction of the Başakşehir Çam and Sakura City Hospital while stating that he hopes for the further development of friendly relations between Turkey and Japan through this opening of the hospital.
[Reference] Başakşehir Çam and Sakura City Hospital
1. A general hospital constructed outlying city of Istanbul with 2,682 beds, consisting of general ward, cardiovascular, cancer, gynecology, pediatrics, orthopedics, and physics.
2.Initially, the hospital was scheduled to open in June 2020, but as a measure against COVID-19, President Erdoğan instructed early opening of the hospital and announced that it would be opened on April 20, 2020. While the hospital was partially opened from that day, the completion of the building was aimed at around the middle of May, and the hospital was opened May 21.