LUSAKA, Jan. 18 (Xinhua) -- Zambia and Turkey have established an inter-parliamentary group as part of efforts to enhance the relationship between the two countries, a government official said on Thursday.

Joseph Chilengi, Zambia's ambassador to Turkey, said the establishment of the Turkey-Zambia Inter-parliamentary Friendship Group was a step in the right direction to cement bilateral relations.

"It is Zambia's desire to lift the relations between our two countries to a higher level through initiatives such as the parliamentary friendship group," he said in a statement released by the Zambian Embassy in Turkey.

He said some of the agreements signed when the leaders of both countries met last year require the ratification by the Grand National Assembly of Turkey, adding that Zambia will need the support of the group to get approval for the agreements so that they could be implemented.

He said the National Assembly of Zambia was in the process of reciprocating by constituting a similar group once parliament resumes sittings next month.

Atilla Odunc, chairperson of the Turkey-Zambia Inter-parliamentary Friendship Group, said Turkey was ready to share its vast experience in various economic sectors with Zambia through cooperation between the two national assemblies.

"We strongly believe that this inter-parliamentary friendship group, which has started well, will continue working hard to strengthen the friendly relations between our two countries in years to come," he said.