News
Friday, April 15, 2011
Zardari and Erdogan renew pledge to build strategic partnership
* President says Pak-Turkey ties rooted in unbreakable centuries-old links of history, culture
* Says both countries should achieve shared prosperity by pooling resources
ANKARA: President Asif Ali Zardari and Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Thursday made a renewed pledge to build a strategic partnership focusing on achieving economic prosperity and strengthening political ties between Pakistan and Turkey.
President Zardari held the meeting with the Turkish prime minister at a luncheon at his official residence. Defence Minister Ahmed Mukhtar, Railways Minister Ghulam Ahmed Bilour and Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Hina Rabbani Khar were present on the occasion.
The two leaders exchanged views on regional and international issues and expressed the determination to take their countries on high trajectory development path by turning challenges into opportunities.
President Zardari referred to Pakistan’s special relationship with Turkey, saying the ties were rooted in unbreakable centuries-old links of history, culture and religion.
Discussing the work done by the High-Level Cooperation Council set up by the two countries, the president expressed the desire to bolster the institutional arrangements, which help in efficient execution of projects planned by the two countries.
Keeping in view the vast potential both the countries have in terms of vast human capital, abundant natural resources and growing markets with middle class consumers, the two leaders agreed that more opportunities could be availed by businessmen of both the countries for investment.
They underlined the need to further encourage their private sectors to create joint ventures in areas of textiles, telecommunications, mining and technology.
President Zardari praised the dynamic leadership of Turkey for ensuring political stability and economic growth in their country.
The president said the vision and contribution of Turkish leaders had advanced regional peace and stability within the Islamic world, and Turkey as a democratic and economically strong country was a source of inspiration for others.
“Fraternal relations between Pakistan and Turkey should be converted into tangible joint projects by taking advantage of the natural resources, human capital and high-end production available in the two countries,” said the president in a public address.
He said Pakistan and Turkey had initial ingredients in a relation like similarities of religion and culture, adding that Pakistan had fertile lands and natural resources like coal and Turkey as a developed economy, democracy and nation at the doors of Europe had the capacity to make high-end products. “So, these advantages can be converged for the mutual benefit of the two countries,” he added.
Addressing representatives of Turkish think tanks, media and academicians on the topic of “Pakistan Turkey Relations in a Changing Global Scenario”, the president underlined the need “for widening horizons and going beyond immediate future” to take advantage of the available opportunities.
The president invited Turkish businessmen to invest in Pakistan, and said the government would facilitate them with infrastructure, adding that they could take back their capital and profits to make more money in new projects. app
Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk