News
Wednesday, November 02, 2011
Pakistan, Turkey vow to expand cooperation for regional progress* Zardari says special relations between two countries should be sustained by more parliamentary exchanges and people-to-people contacts
ISTANBUL: Pakistan and Turkey on Tuesday vowed to further expand their strong, friendly and brotherly ties to play more active and pivotal role in peace, progress and stability in the region and for the welfare of the people of two countries.
During the bilateral talks held on Tuesday, starting with a one-on-one meeting between President Asif Ali Zardari and his Turkish counterpart Abdullah Gul, and later at the delegate-level, both the countries agreed to enhance their cooperation in trade, economic, education, communication, transportation and other fields.
Both the presidents held one-on-one meeting for half an hour and later were joined by the members of their respective delegations. This was the second meeting between the two presidents in two days, the last one held on Monday that had lasted for two hours. Pakistan’s side included Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar, Defence Minister Ahmed Mukhtar, Interior Minister Rehman Malik, State Bank Governor Yaseen Anwar, Board of Investment Chairman Salim H Mandviwala, Secretary General to President Salman Farooqui, Spokesperson to President Farhatullah Babar, Pakistan’s ambassador to Turkey Muhammad Haroon Shaukat and other officials.
The Turkish president was assisted by Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu and other officials. Both the sides discussed all aspects to further improve bilateral relations in different fields. During their wide-ranging talks, they expressed their desire to diverse relations between the two countries for mutual benefit.
Zardari and Gul witnessed the signing of the currency swap agreement between the two countries.
The spokesperson to the president said that the agreement was inked by the governors of the state banks of the two countries as the two presidents and a number of federal ministers from both countries witnessed.
Babar, giving details of the bilateral talks, said that Zardari emphasised that special relations between the two countries should be sustained by more parliamentary exchanges and people-to-people contacts.
He said that the president thanked Turkey for its support to Pakistan’s candidature for UN Security Council and also during recent floods in Sindh.
Both the countries agreed to remove trade barriers, ease visa restrictions and take steps to increase bilateral trade to $2 billion. Both the president said it was an encouraging sign that the private sectors were collaborating in the energy, construction, food processing and rubber industry.
Regarding banking sector, Babar said that both the countries agreed to open more branches of their banks in each other’s countries for the benefit of the business community.
The president said Pakistan was ready to implement ECO Trade Agreement (ECOTA) together with Turkey. Implementation of ECOTA is held up since last year awaiting submission of lists of tradable goods by some member countries. He thanked President Abdullah Gul for his personal interest in the “Gul Train” project, which would revolutionise cargo, and transit facilities between the two countries.
Referring to cooperation in education, he said Pakistani universities were ready to establish “Techno-Parks” in Pakistan in collaboration with the Turkish universities.
Pakistan envisages this Conference as a platform to express region’s solidarity and support for Afghanistan. The president extended invitation to the Turkish president to visit Pakistan and also expressed grief over loss of precious lives and destruction of property in the recent quake in Turkey. app
Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk