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By APD writer Muhammad Sohail
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan arrived in the Pakistani capital Islamabad on Thursday on a two-day visit aiming to strengthen bilateral strategic partnership and economic ties between the two countries.
Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan welcomed the Turkish president and his wife Emine Erdogan at the Nur Khan Airbase near Islamabad. Later, Khan personally drove Erdogan and the Turkish first lady from the airport to the Prime Minister House after a guard of honor to the Turkish president by smartly turned-out personnel of the armed forces.
Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry has announced that the Turkish president is visiting Pakistan for underscoring “traditional solidarity and affinity” between the two countries and further “deepening and broadening of the flourishing Pakistan-Turkey strategic partnership”.
Turkish president, who is accompanied on the trip by his cabinet members, senior government officials and leading Turkish business figures, would co-chair with Prime Minister Imran the 6th session of the Pakistan-Turkey High-Level Strategic Cooperation Council (HLSCC).
Erdogan is also scheduled to address a joint session of Pakistani parliament on Friday for the record fourth time and speak at the Pakistan-Turkey Business and Investment Forum.
He will also meet Pakistani President Arif Alvi during his stay.
According to local media reports, Pakistan is likely to invite Turkey to join the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).
Quoting Turkish ambassador to Pakistan, Radio Pakistan reported that CPEC is almost completed and that Turkey is interested in becoming a part of special economic zones, which will be established under the project.
“Pakistan and Turkey have a unique and abiding relationship characterized by mutual support and exceptional mutual trust and understanding. The two brotherly countries have always been each other’s steadfast partners. Turkey supports the cause of self-determination for the people of Indian occupied Jammu & Kashmir. Pakistan stands by Turkey on the question of Cyprus,” said a statement from Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Turkey and Pakistan are expected to sign a number of important agreements/memorandums of understanding to formalize some of the understandings that would be reached during the meetings.
(ASIA PACIFIC DAILY)
