- Title: PAKISTAN: Turkey strengthens bilateral relations with Pakistan
- Date: 23rd May 2012
- Summary: VARIOUS OF GILANI AND ERDOGAN STANDING AS NATIONAL ANTHEMS ARE PLAYED VARIOUS OF ERDOGAN WALKING ALONGSIDE SOLDIERS / GUARD OF HONOUR CEREMONY GILANI INTRODUCING ERDOGAN TO CABINET MINISTERS
- Embargoed: 7th June 2012 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Pakistan
- Country: Pakistan
- Topics: International Relations,Politics
- Reuters ID: LVA4TZMDMET2TIKFRU13F12U3C53
- Story Text: Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan co-chaired the second High Level Cooperation Council (HLCC) meeting with his Pakistani counterpart on Tuesday (May 22).
Erdogan is on a three-day official visit to Pakistan at the invitation of the country's Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani.
The HLCC meeting was held at the Prime Minister's house where the leaders talked about boosting ties between the two countries. The meeting, originally scheduled for 45 minutes, lasted twice as long as the two leaders discussed expansion of cooperation in multiple fields.
High-level delegations from both countries assisted in working out details.
After the meeting, the two premiers witnessed the signing of nine documents for cooperation in different fields including investment, energy and communication in a bid to further strengthen bilateral relations.
"I'm happy to say that second session of HLCC (High Level Cooperation Council) has been another milestone in strengthening our brotherly relations with Republic of Turkey. The agreements signed and decisions reached today would give fresh impetus to our bilateral co-operation in key areas identified at the first HLCC meeting," Gilani said at a news conference after the meeting.
"Nine years ago, the foreign trade volume between the two countries was 175 million (USD). As of the end of 2011, this figure surpassed the mark of 1 billion. This alone is an indication of how dedicated we are to this process," Erdogan added.
The Joint Declaration issued after the meeting said Pakistan and Turkey recognised "a common vision and desire for peace and prosperity of their people and their region".
It was agreed that cooperation between the security agencies of Pakistan and Turkey would be broadened in the fields of counter-terrorism and drug trafficking.
It was also agreed that the two countries would intensify their ongoing cooperation while defence-related industries would focus on joint defence production and related research and development activities.
On Monday (May 21), Erdogan addressed a joint session of the Parliament, becoming the first world leader to address Pakistan's Parliament twice.
The Turkish premier, who is accompanied by his wife, daughter and a large delegation made up of ministers, members of the Turkish parliament, businessmen and journalists, is scheduled to leave for Turkey later on Tuesday. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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