Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari was hosted over dinner by H.E. Mevlüt Çavu?o?lu, Foreign Minister of Republic of Turkey, in Ankara today.
While thanking his Turkish counterpart for the warm hospitality, the Foreign Minister noted that the bilateral relations between the two countries were grounded in love and affection that the two peoples had for each other.
The two Foreign Ministers held an all-encompassing exchange of views on a range of subjects and took stock of the ongoing cooperation in various fields. The Foreign Minister underlined that the High-Level Strategic Cooperation Council (HLSCC) and the Strategic Economic Framework (SEF) continued to serve as useful mechanisms for taking bilateral relations to a higher plane. Pakistan looked forward to the session of HLSCC later this year in Turkey.
The Foreign Minister thanked the Turkish Government for its steadfast support and principled position on the Jammu and Kashmir dispute.
The two Foreign Ministers also exchanged views on regional issues. The Foreign Minister appreciated Turkey’s contribution towards peace and security in its immediate neighborhood and beyond. On Afghanistan, the Foreign Minister underscored the need for continued engagement between the international community and the interim Afghan government to achieve shared objectives of peace, stability and progress in Afghanistan.
The Foreign Minister also appreciated the constructive role of Turkey in the Ukraine crisis and personal efforts of the Turkish Foreign Minister in promoting dialogue and diplomacy.
The Foreign Minister is accompanying the Prime Minister on an official visit to Turkey. It was the second meeting of the two Foreign Ministers in less than a month.
************
