ISLAMABAD, Pakistan: Pakistan and Turkey on Thursday agreed to further strengthen their existing close, deep-rooted and multi-faceted ties and cooperation in diverse areas for the mutual benefit.
Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif after holding one-on-one meeting and delegation talks with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, told a joint press conference in Islamabad that they had an extensive and wide-ranging exchange of views.
“We reaffirmed our joint commitment to continue to transform our special relationship into a strong, strategic partnership.”
The Prime Minister said the two sides agreed that increased trade, investment and commercial cooperation must be the nucleus of the robust economic relationship that they envision.
“In this context we have decided to complete the negotiation process for the comprehensive bilateral free trade agreement by the end of 2017,” he said.
During the delegation level talks, Prime Minister Sharif and President Erdogan led their respective delegations.
The two sides discussed regional and international issues and matters of mutual interests, and reaffirmed commitment to transform their special relationship into a strong strategic partnership.
