Qubad Talabani and Ali Babacan met at the Slemani Strategic Forum to boost Kurdistan Region–Turkey cooperation. Both leaders reaffirmed their support for Turkey’s peace process. Qubad Talabani and Ali Babacan, leader of Turkey’s Democracy and Progress Party (DEVA), discussed Turkey's peace process and ways to strengthen ties between the Kurdistan Region and Ankara on Thursday. Qubad Talabani’s Media Office stated that they highlighted “the importance of recent advancements in bilateral ties.”