ANKARA/ISLAMABAD:
Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening bilateral relations and collaborating on solutions to global challenges during a meeting in Ankara on Tuesday.
At a joint press conference following their talks, President Erdogan expressed Turkey’s full support for Pakistan’s efforts to eliminate terrorism and praised Islamabad’s stance on the Palestinian issue. He said Pakistan was one of the countries that reacted “most strongly” to the genocide in Gaza.
Speaking on the occasion, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif thanked Turkey for its cooperation in counter-terrorism efforts. He said that both countries had agreed to collaborate across various sectors, including energy, mining, minerals and information technology, and to initiate joint projects.
Shehbaz arrived in Turkey on a two-day official visit. Shortly after his arrival, he met with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and held discussions on bilateral, regional, and international matters, according to a press release from the Prime Minister’s Office Media Wing in Islamabad.
Following their talks, the two leaders addressed the media. They emphasized a strong alignment in their perspectives on global issues. “We are pleased to see that we act in harmony on almost every issue,” Erdogan said during the joint news conference.
He continued by hailing the “determined stance” of both countries against terrorism. “Pakistan is determined to eliminate terrorism,” Erdogan told reporters, adding that Turkiye supported Pakistan’s efforts to eliminate the menace.
Erdogan also praised Pakistan’s efforts to help end the war in Gaza, calling it one of the countries that responded most strongly to the ongoing genocide. “We will continue working together toward the establishment of an independent and sovereign state of Palestine,” he added.
Prime Minister Shehbaz called for immediate ceasefire in Gaza, as he strongly condemned the killing of 50,000 innocent lives there. He expressed gratitude for Turkey’s unwavering support on the Kashmir issue. On the Cyprus issue, he said, “We support Turkey’s position”.
Shehbaz said that both countries agreed to launch joint projects in various sectors. Erdogan said that Turkiye wanted to launch joint projects in the defence sector, as he hailed the strong friendship between the two countries.
Earlier, during their meeting, both sides underscored the enduring fraternal ties between the two countries and reaffirmed their commitment to further deepening bilateral cooperation across various sectors, the Prime Minister Office handout said.
The prime minister emphasised the importance of enhancing economic collaboration, especially through joint ventures and bilateral investments. The handout added that Shehbaz highlighted the potential for bilateral cooperation in the fields of energy and mining
He also highlighted the scope for joint ventures in defence and agri production, enhancing regional and bilateral connectivity to boost trade and people-to-people exchanges, and deepening cooperation in emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI) and cyber-security.
During the discussions, both the leaders took note of the follow-up actions on decisions of the seventh High-Level Strategic Cooperation Council (HLSCC) held in Islamabad on February 13. Both sides expressed satisfaction with the trajectory of the multifaceted bilateral collaboration.
Prime Minister Shehbaz and President Erdogan also discussed regional and global matters and reaffirmed their support to each other on issues of national interest. They reiterated their commitment to strengthening the bilateral strategic partnership to foster peace and prosperity in the region.
The Pakistan delegation included Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, Information Minister Ataullah Tarar, Special Assistant to Prime Minister Tariq Fatemi and Pakistan’s Ambassador to Turkiye Dr Yusuf Junaid. Later, Erdogan hosted a banquet in honour of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.
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