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Brief stopover: Nawaz wants Pakistan-Turkey to expand bilateral trade, investment

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan makes a two-hour long stopover in Islamabad while returning from Indonesia

APP/abdul Manan August 01, 2015

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif (R) shaking hands with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan (L) in Islamabad on Saturday evening. PHOTO: PID

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan held a one-on-one bilateral meeting at Nur Khan airbase in Islamabad on Saturday evening as the latter made a brief stopover in Pakistan on his return from Indonesia.

They discussed the enhancement of bilateral relations between Pakistan and Turkey, in addition to deliberations on global and international issues of mutual interest.

Nawaz expressed his desire for Pakistan and Turkey to work together in increasing the volume of bilateral trade and investment through trade agreements and other measures.

The premier appreciated Turkish technical participation in various development projects in Pakistan over past couple of years,further appreciating the personal contribution of the Turkish President to the growth and expansion of Pak-Turkey relations.

The Turkish President expressed his hope that mutual cooperation between the two countries increases in the future.

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif (R) and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan (L) during a meeting at Nur Khan Airbase in Islamabad. PHOTO: PID

Earlier Erdogan was accorded a red carpet welcome as he landed at Nur Khan airbase along with his spouse and delegation.

The delegation was received by the prime minister accompanied by Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif, Advisor on National Security and Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz, Finance Minister Ishaq Dar, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif, Special Assistant to PM Tariq Fatemi, Maryam Nawaz and Foreign Secretary Aizaz Chaudhry.

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif (L) received Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan (R) at Nur Khan Airbase in Islamabad. PHOTO: PID

Clad in traditional dresses, a boy and a girl presented bouquets to Erdogan. He was presented a salute by the static guards of the Pakistan Air Force.

Read: Seventh visit: Turkey’s president due in Islamabad today

Later, Nawaz also hosted a dinner for the visiting delegation.

The Turkish president departed after completing a two hour visit.

This was Erdogan's first visit to Islamabad after being elected as President of Turkey. Earlier, he had visited Lahore and Islamabad in December 2013 as the Prime Minister of Turkey. Overall, this was his seventh visit to Pakistan in last 10 years.

COMMENTS (3)

khalid | 9 years ago | Reply Pakistan Turkey bi-lateral trade relations look a bit strange---all what Turkey has offered Pakistan so far ,is some garbage collection services in few cities,busses for metro transports ,and decades old volume of usual trade---she could not participate in some meaningful economic activity like setting up some mega projects like fertiliser factories,steel mills,banks etc --it gives an impression of more of personal business relations between Nawaz sharif &family and president of Turkey--

Ridwan | 9 years ago | Reply Trade with Turkey is a drop in the bucket compared to the benefits we'd have if we had open and free markets all across South Asia with goods flowing freely across borders. This is the only way 1.5 billion Desis will ever see a high standard of living in our lives. We need them, but they don't realize how much they need us. So let's stop looking 1500 miles away when we both are next door to each other - and yes, I think Modi would agree to these sorts of economic agreements.

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