ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and Turkey Tuesday resolved to increase bilateral cooperation against terrorism and organised crime, besides consulting each other bilaterally as well as multilaterally to promote regional peace and security.
According to a joint statement issued by the ministry of foreign affairs following the visit of Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan to Pakistan, both the countries also expressed their desire to enhance cooperation in social sectors especially culture, education and tourism.
The Turkish premier had a meeting with his Pakistani counterpart, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and President Mamnoon Hussain besides delegation level talks.
The two prime ministers exchanged views across the whole gamut of bilateral, regional and international issues and expressed their satisfaction on the progress in strategic partnership.
They reaffirmed their abiding commitment for the socio-economic development of the people and to follow policies that bring improvement in the quality of people's lives and prosperity to their respective countries.
They pledged to intensify cooperation in energy, trade, urban development, infrastructure and housing sectors besides inking agreement to operationalise the Islamabad-Tehran-Istanbul ECO Container Train.
The two prime ministers termed it a “comprehensive review” of bilateral relations.
“We have just concluded a comprehensive review of our bilateral relations as well as regional and international issues of mutual concern. Our discussions were marked by unanimity of views on all issues,” said PM Sharif.
The two sides also expressed their desire to enhance cooperation in social sectors especially culture, education and tourism. Improved cooperation in social sector fields will also serve as a vehicle for greater people to people relations between the two countries.
During the visit, three MoUs and one Cooperation Protocol were signed between Pakistan and Turkey.
Pakistan and Turkey agreed to maintain active political consultative process as well as regular exchange of high level visits alongside visits of parliamentarians, businessmen, civil society and media representatives.
The two sides also agreed on the follow up implementation of decisions taken at the High Level Strategic Cooperation Council Forum and conclude Pakistan-Turkey Preferential Trade Agreement (PTA) by the first half of 2014.
Both the sides also resolved to facilitate investments by the private sector in both countries. Pakistan would especially encourage Turkish private sector for investments in the key sectors of energy, especially coal, hydroelectric and wind, infrastructure including motorways, roads and airports, low-cost housing and urban development and municipal services like public transport and solid waste management.
It was also agreed to encourage respective state and private banks to open branches in Pakistan and Turkey, besides ensure regular operations of Istanbul-Islamabad Container train for enhanced on-land connectivity between Pakistan and Turkey
Further deepening of defence cooperation through exploring the possibility of joint defence production and allied research and development was also resolved.
The two sides also vowed to enhance cooperation between educational institutions of the two countries and increase the number of students’ scholarships and promote cooperation in fields of tourism and preservation and restoration of historical and archaeological sites.
Prime Minister Erdogan also invited PM Sharif to visit Turkey which the latter accepted.
On the first leg of his tour on Monday, the Turkish PM visited Lahore where he addressed a Business Forum attended by leading business community from Turkey and all across Pakistan.
The same evening, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif hosted a reception for the visiting premier and his delegation.