Riyadh // Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan met Saudi Arabia's top leadership on Tuesday during a visit to further strengthen ties as part of a Gulf tour ahead of Syria peace talks.
King Salman hosted a luncheon banquet for Mr Erdogan, who arrived in Riyadh late on Monday, the official Saudi Press Agency said.
It gave no details of their discussions, but said Mr Erdogan also met Crown Prince Mohammed bin Nayef, the interior minister, and Deputy Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who is defence minister.
The two powers have become increasingly close over the past year, sharing in particular a backing for the opposition in Syria's war.
Ankara has taken on an increasingly important role with Moscow and Iran as a power broker in the Syria conflict.
Analysts say the capture late last year by Syria's army of the country's second city Aleppo, backed by Russian air strikes, was a setback for Saudi Arabia and Qatar.
The states have supported rebels whose struggle to oust President Bashar Al Assad seems increasingly fruitless.
In January, Turkey, along with Assad allies Russia and Iran, sponsored talks in Kazakhstan between Syrian rebels and government officials.
There was no breakthrough, but another round is expected in Astana this Wednesday and Thursday, before United Nations-sponsored peace talks resume in Geneva on February 23.
On Monday in Bahrain, Mr Erdogan called for a "safe zone" in northern Syria for people displaced by the war.
The positions of Saudi Arabia and Turkey are "absolutely identical" on Syria, Saudi Foreign Minister Adel Al Jubeir said last week in Ankara.
He was attending the first meeting of a coordination council to enhance ties between the two countries.
Mr Erdogan travelled to Qatar late on Tuesday, with which Turkey has maintained strong ties for years. Qatar also hosts a Turkish military base.
*Agence France-Presse
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