title: Sudan, Turkey to set up 'strategic cooperation council', boost trade ties
text: KHARTOUM (Reuters) - Turkey and Sudan have agreed to set up a  strategic cooperation council  to strengthen economic ties, their presidents said at a news conference in Khartoum on Sunday after the first visit by a Turkish leader to the African nation. The countries hope gradually to increase bilateral trade ties to $10 billion a year from the current $500 million, and signed 12 agreements on military, economic and agricultural cooperation. Sudan s economy has been struggling since the south seceded in 2011, taking with it three-quarters of the country s oil output. In recent years, Turkey has boosted investments in Sudan. 