Prime Minister
Shahid Khaqan Abbasi met Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan today on the
sidelines of the UNGA Session in New York. The two leaders had in-depth
exchange of views about the strengthening of bilateral relations. They also
reviewed regional peace and security situation.
The Prime
Minister said that Pakistan-Turkey relations are based on common faith, values,
culture, history, mutual trust and support. Linkages between the people
of the two countries had transformed into a strategic partnership that is
strengthening with each passing day, the Prime Minister said.
Appreciating
the regular high level exchanges between the two countries and the
institutional interaction through the High Level Strategic Cooperation Council,
both the leaders expressed satisfaction over deepening of cooperation through
political, defence, trade and investment exchanges. The two leaders emphasized
that the two countries should continue to attach special focus on enhancing
economic cooperation and work together for early finalization of the Free Trade
Agreement for boosting the bilateral trade.
The Prime
Minister said that Pakistan and Turkey extended support to each other on the
issues of their vital national interests. The Prime Minister thanked the
Turkish President for Turkey's unflinching support to the struggle of the
people of Indian occupied Jammu and Kashmir.
President
Erdogan appreciated the strengthening of the bilateral relations through
concrete cooperation in various fields and the commonality of views between the
two countries on key international and regional issues. He reaffirmed Turkey’s
commitment for continued endeavours for strengthening of the mutually
beneficial strategic partnership.
The two leaders
also exchanged views on the regional situation. On the efforts for peace and
stability in Afghanistan they agreed that there was no military solution of the
Afghan conflict and the efforts should continue for a regional approach for an
internal political settlement in Afghanistan through an Afghan-owned afghan-led
peace process. Both the leaders agreed on the revival of the
Pakistan-Afghanistan-Turkey Trilateral process for promoting lasting peace and
stability in Afghanistan.
Discussing the
plight of Rohingya Muslims, President Erdogan and Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan
Abbasi urged the international community and the OIC to take urgent measures to
alleviate the suffering of these people.