ISTANBUL, April 30 (Xinhua) -- Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who has been suffering from a stomach illness, made his first public appearance in person in three days by inaugurating a tech fair in Istanbul on Saturday.
The Turkish leader attended the opening ceremony of the 6th annual TEKNOFEST technology fair with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and Libyan Prime Minister Abdul-Hamid Dbeibah.
At the ceremony, he praised the rapid growth of the fair and spoke about the efforts to create a technological ecosystem in Türkiye that enables young people to pursue their dreams.
During the event, Erdogan also introduced the country's first two astronaut candidates, Air Force pilot Alper Gezeravci and propulsion systems engineer Tuva Cihangir Atasever from defense contractor Roketsan. Gezeravci is expected to visit the International Space Station in late 2023, where he will conduct 13 different experiments prepared by Turkish universities and research centers.
Erdogan had been keeping a low profile since falling ill during a live TV broadcast on Tuesday night. Türkiye's Health Minister Fahrettin Koca confirmed Erdogan was suffering from gastroenteritis.
With the Turkish economy struggling with issues including high inflation and a weak currency, Erdogan is facing a big challenge as he seeks another term of the presidency in the presidential and parliamentary polls on May 14.
The Turkish president carries out an intense election campaign that features daily rallies and trips to the provinces. Erdogan, 69, had laparoscopic surgery on his digestive system in 2011.
