Mayor Khan to Make History as First London Mayor to Visit Türkiye, Attending COP31

Mayor Sadiq Khan will become the first Mayor of London ever to visit Türkiye, combining climate diplomacy with an economic development mission. He will attend COP31 in Antalya as co-chair of the C40 network of global cities, where he will lead critical discussions on actions major cities can take to help tackle the climate crisis. Khan described climate change as "the biggest threat facing our planet" and stressed that cities have a critical role in driving the change the world needs. After the conference, he will travel to Istanbul to encourage further investment in London and celebrate the deep ties between the two countries. UK-Türkiye trade totalled around £28 billion in 2025, and almost 8,000 UK companies currently export goods to Turkey. By 2050, Turkey's economy is projected to be the 12th largest in the world and the fourth largest in Europe. Türkiye is the 13th most common country of birth for Londoners, with established communities in Hackney, Enfield and Haringey. Khan made the announcement at Antepliler restaurant on Green Lanes, which has been bringing food from Gaziantep to London since 1993, where he met owner Ahmet Murat Ustunsurmeli.