ANKARA — Kenya has inaugurated its embassy in the Turkish capital Ankara on Wednesday.

Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta and Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu attended the inauguration ceremony.

Kenyatta's visit to Turkey marked the first-ever presidential visit from Kenya to Turkey.

"We are determined to foster a partnership between Turkey and Kenya," Kenyatta said. "Turkish President Abdullah Gul paid a visit to Kenya in 2009 and since then we have seen an increase in our cooperation. This visit alone will see a further strengthening of that cooperation both at the bilateral level and at the multilateral level."

The president also called for Turkish investment in Kenya.

Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu said Kenya is a "pivotal country and a strategic partner" for Turkey.

"Kenya has been the center of all of our diplomatic and economic activities," he added.

Turkey opened its embassy in Kenyan capital Nairobi in 1968, and it has developed its policy of opening up to Africa with a strategic approach in the last ten years.

The number of Turkish embassies in the African continent has risen from 12 to 35, while the number of African embassies has risen from 11 to 28 with the opening of the Kenyan embassy in Ankara.