Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Tuesday hosted Saudi King Salman at his presidential palace in Ankara, extending his guest a lavish welcome that underlined the growing importance of Ankara-Riyadh ties, AFP reports.

Salman was met by Erdogan at his vast new presidential palace with an honor guard of Turkish soldiers as well as 16 costumed warriors representing the various Turkic empires in world history.