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, says a press release received
here today from New York.
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.