Monitoring Desk: Prime Minister of Pakistan Shahid Khaqan Abbasi met Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan today on the sidelines of the UNGA Session in New York, reports Pakistan Foreign Office.
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.