National News

ISLAMABAD, (MILLAT+APP): President of Turkey Recep Tayyip
Erdogan is visiting Pakistan on November 16-17 on invitation of
President Mamnoon Hussain, the Foreign Office said on Monday.
“While the Turkish President has been to Pakistan on a number
of occasions, this would be his first bilateral visit to Pakistan
since assuming office,” the Foreign Office said in a statement
issued here.
President Erdogan will be accompanied by a high-level entourage,
including ministers and senior officials, as well as a large business delegation.
Besides meeting President Mamnoon Hussain, the Turkish President will
hold talks with Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif where the two leaders would cover entire range of bilateral matters, as well as regional and international issues.
The Turkish President is also scheduled to address the Joint Session
of the Parliament.
President Mamnoon will host a banquet in honour of the distinguished
guest and his entourage.
President Erdogan will also travel to Lahore, where the Prime
Minister will host a banquet in his honour at the Shahi Fort.
“Pakistan and Turkey are bound by an exemplary relationship
characterized by warmth, cordiality and mutual trust. There are
embedded deep in history, common faith, cultural and linguistic
affinities and a sense of common destiny,” the Foreign Office
statement added.
Frequent exchanges at the leadership and ministerial levels
and growing cooperation in diverse fields are the hallmarks of the
unique bonds between Pakistan and Turkey.
The leadership of both countries is committed to transforming
this historic relationship into a strong strategic partnership, in
line with the realities of the 21st century.
High Level Strategic Cooperation Council at the leadership
level and a host of other bilateral institutional mechanisms provide
effective platform for frequent exchange of views.
Bilateral relations between Pakistan and Turkey have witnessed
tremendous growth and dynamism in recent years. Both sides are
working to give powerful thrust to bilateral trade, investment and
commercial cooperation as part of the efforts to build a robust
economic partnership.
Both countries closely collaborate with and mutually support
each other at regional and international forums. Turkey has
steadfastly supported the people of Occupied Jammu and Kashmir, in
their just struggle for the right to self-determination in
accordance with the relevant UN resolutions.
“The friendly nation of Turkey plays a vital and active role
as a member of the OIC Contact Group on Jammu and Kashmir. In a
vivid reflection of mutuality of concerns, Pakistan supports Turkey
on the Cyprus issue,” the statement mentioned.
The leaderships in Pakistan and Turkey remain strongly
committed to further deepening and strengthening the bilateral
relationship in all fields of human endeavour.
The Foreign Office said President Erdogan’s visit would
contribute substantially to further solidifying the abiding
relationship between the two fraternal countries.