TABRIZ -- Turkish President Ahmet Necdet Sezer arrived in this northeastern city Tuesday afternoon at the head of a 120-strong trade delegation for talks with economic and political officials of the East Azarbaijan Province.

Sezer is scheduled to visit several sites in the Turkic Azeri-speaking city, including the Turkish consulate, a Carpet Museum as well as the city's traditional bazaar.

The Turkish president, who arrived in Tehran Monday, will then head for home later in the day, IRNA reported.

Tabriz, with a population of 1.3 million, is the major Azeri-speaking city in Iran.

During his stay in Tehran, Sezer discussed several issues of interest between the two countries, including trade, Afghan reconstruction, Iraq and the Middle East crisis.

He also inaugurated the first Turkish language and literature course at Tehran's Allameh Tabatabai University.

President Mohammad Khatami on Monday expressed hope that Sezer's visit would "usher in a new chapter in Tehran-Ankara amicable relations based on mutual respect, the principle of non-interference in each other's internal affairs and the need to strengthen political, economic and cultural bonds." He said Iran supports Turkey's bid for membership in the European Union (EU), since it could "help with the progress of regional countries and Turkey's neighbors, including Iran, besides paving the way for Ankara's development." Sezer, for his part, said there is no obstacle to boost Tehran-Ankara ties, and voiced Turkey's interest to broaden relations with the Islamic Republic on the basis of mutual respect, non-interference in internal affairs and good neighborly ties.

He urged Tehran and Ankara to promote cooperation on the anti-terror campaign.