Pakistan, Turkey agree to enhance trade and economic relations

Turkey’s Foreign Minister (FM) Mevlut Cavusoglu and Pakistan’s FM Shah Mahmood Qureshi met on Friday and discussed the need to enhance trade and economic relations between the two countries.

FM Cavusoglu arrived in Islamabad on Friday morning, where he was received by senior officials of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The Turkish minister is on a two-day official visit to Pakistan.

Addressing a joint press conference with the Turkish minister, FM Qureshi said that relations between the two countries are not just restricted to government level. He said that Turkey stood by Pakistan in its hour of trial and supported it against Financial Action Task Force's decision to place Pakistan on grey list.

Speaking about their meeting, Qureshi said that the two countries focused on strengthening their economic relation and the ways to facilitate each other. He said they had also discussed the situation of Kashmir, Afghanistan and Iran.

Turkish FM arriving at MOFA pic.twitter.com/b57bpi0kJs

— Dr Mohammad Faisal (@ForeignOfficePk) September 14, 2018

Addressing the conference, the Turkish FM Cavusoglu congratulated Prime Minister Imran Khan on forming the new government. The Turkish FM is also expected to meet PM Khan and President Arif Alvi, local media reported. "Government changes, but real friendships cannot end. This friendship should remain forever," he said.

Cavusoglu further said that both the countries have suffered the most hardships in the war against terrorism. He expressed hope that the Kashmir issue would be resolved in the UN in a peaceful manner.

The Foreign Office in a statement on Twitter, "Pak-Turk delegation level talks - Both countries are tied in inseparable bonds of people to people affection based on common faith and objectives and shared destinies as members of Islamic world. Both countries pledged to continue partnership for regional peace and stability."