Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz on Saturday said the multifaceted and deep-rooted relationship between Pakistan and Turkey is based on shared heritage, common faith and cultural values as well as identity of views on major regional and international issues.
He was talking to Interior Minister of Turkey Abdulkadir Aksu who called on him here at the Prime Minister House this afternoon. "Our close and collaborative relationship is unique in the sense that it derives its strength from the affections and affinities that have historically existed between our two people", the Prime Minister said.
He said the signing of three agreements on Friday between the Interior Ministries of the two countries in Islamabad will further enhance and institutionalise the ongoing security co-operation between the two countries and prevent human smuggling and illegal immigration in the region.
The Prime Minister emphasised the need to expand trade ties between the two countries which, he said, are far below their potential. He said that private sectors of the two countries need to be encouraged to explore the trade and investment opportunities in each other's countries.
The Prime Minister expressed the hope that the next meeting of the Joint Ministerial Commission (JMC) to be held this year in Turkey will strengthen the broad-based relationship between the two countries and boost economic co-operation especially in the trade and investment areas.
The quadrilateral meeting between Pakistan, Turkey, Iran and Greece scheduled to be held in Turkey this year will also serve to expand co-operation between the four countries, he said.
The Prime Minister said that the government and the people of Pakistan will never forget spontaneous and generous support extended by Turkey in the wake of the disastrous earthquake that hit Pakistan in October, 2005.
Pakistan will also never forget that Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan was the first head of government to visit Pakistan and the effected areas in its hour of need, he said. Shaukat Aziz said the monument built in Ankara Park in Islamabad to commemorate the memory of the two Turkish engineers who laid down their lives while helping people in the quake affected areas symbolises Pakistan's abiding gratitude to government and people of Turkey for their deep love, affection and concern for Pakistan.
Turkish Minister Abdulkadir Aksu said Turkey appreciates and takes pride in the progress made by Pakistan in all fields in the last few years. He further said that Pakistan is a second home to all Turks as borne out by the warm welcome and hospitality extended to us.
He said that both countries need to make collaborative efforts to expand their economic ties which are not commensurate to the size and scope of their rapidly growing economies. The meeting was attended among others by Minister for Interior Aftab Ahmed Khan Sherpao, Ambassador of Turkey in Islamabad Engin Soysal and senior officials.