ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and Turkey have expressed their resolve to comprehensively upgrade bilateral relations across all areas of mutual interest with focus on economic and commercial aspects.
A joint statement issued on Tuesday at the end of the two-day official visit of the Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan to Pakistan said that the two sides desired to enhance cooperation in social sectors especially culture‚ education and tourism.
The two sides noted that improved cooperation in social sector fields will also serve as a vehicle for greater people to people relations between the two countries.
Both Pakistan and Turkey agreed to maintain active political consultative process as well as regular exchange of high level visits alongside visits of parliamentarians‚ businessmen‚ civil society and media representatives. They also agreed to conclude Pakistan-Turkey Preferential Trade Agreement (PTA) by the first half of next year.
The statement said that Pakistan and Turkey will facilitate investments by the private sector in both countries. Pakistan would especially encourage Turkish private sector for investments in the key sectors of energy‚ especially coal‚ hydroelectric and wind‚ infrastructure including motorways‚ roads and airports‚ low-cost housing and urban development and municipal services like public transport and solid waste management.
The two countries would encourage their respective state and private banks to open branches in Pakistan and Turkey. They would also ensure regular operations of Istanbul-Islamabad Container train for enhanced on-land connectivity between the two countries.
The leadership of the two countries agreed to strengthen our existing cooperation and partnership in security and counter-terrorism related issues.
Pakistan and Turkey would further deepen their defence cooperation through exploring the possibility of joint defence production and allied Research and Development.
The two sides resolved to learn from each other’s best practices in skill development and vocational training programs.
Moreover, they would enhance cooperation between educational institutions‚ and increase the number of scholarships to students to pursue undergraduate‚ graduate and post graduate level studies in both countries in the fields of engineering‚ technology‚ medicine and management sciences.
The two countries agreed to promote cooperation in tourism and preservation and restoration of historical and archaeological sites; and closely coordinate and consult each other bilaterally as well as multilaterally to promote regional peace and security.
The joint statement further stated that Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan invited Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to visit Turkey which was accepted.
