Erdogan arrives today

President of Turkey Recep Tayyip Erdogan will arrive here on Thursday (today) on a two-day official visit for "further deepening and broadening of the flourishing Pakistan-Turkey strategic partnership". According to the Foreign Office spokesperson, Aisha Farooqui, President Erdogan who is visiting Pakistan from February 13-14 on the invitation of Prime Minister Imran Khan, will be accompanied by a high-level delegation comprising cabinet members and senior government officials, as well as heads and CEOs of leading Turkish corporations. President Erdogan will be accorded a red-carpet welcome upon his arrival at Nur Khan Airbase where he would be given guard of honor. Prime Minister Imran Khan along with senior members of his cabinet will receive the Turkish president and members of his delegation at the airbase.

During the visit, Prime Minister Imran Khan and President Erdogan will have tête-à-tête, after which they will co-chair the 6th Session of the Pakistan-Turkey High Level Strategic Cooperation Council (HLSCC) in joint cabinet format.

At the conclusion of the session, Aisha Farooqui said that a joint declaration would be signed.

A number of important agreements/MoUs are expected to be concluded, she said, adding the two leaders would also have a joint press stakeout. President Erdogan will separately meet with President Dr Arif Alvi. President Erodgan will also address a joint session of the parliament on Friday (tomorrow).

Together with Prime Minister Imran Khan, he will address the Pakistan-Turkey Business and Investment Forum, which brings together leading investors and business-people from both sides. Farooqui said HLSCC was the highest level decision-making forum, providing strategic direction to further strengthening of relations between the two countries.

She said there were seven joint working groups (JWGs) working under the HLSCC, focused on political coordination; trade and investment; energy; banking and finance; transport and communications; culture and tourism; and education.

So far, five sessions of the HLSCC had been held, alternately in Islamabad and Ankara, Farooqui added. "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," she said, adding Turkey supported the cause of self-determination for the people of Indian-Occupied Jammu and Kashmir.

Pakistan stood by Turkey on the question of Cyprus, Farooqui added.

The spokesperson maintained that Pakistan-Turkey relations had further fortified into an enduring partnership under the leadership of Prime Minister Imran Khan and President Erdogan.

"Both sides place a strong emphasis on forging a robust economic relationship. There is also a joint resolve to translate historic amity into vibrant cooperation in diverse fields, including in the context of combating Islamophobia, promoting Islamic solidarity, and advancing shared goals of regional peace, security and stability," she said.

Farooqui said the visit of President Erdogan would serve to underscore the traditional solidarity and affinity between the two countries, and prove to be another significant milestone in the further deepening and broadening of the flourishing Pakistan-Turkey strategic partnership.