Prime Minister Gilani said that Turkey and Pakistan enjoyed deep historical and cultural ties spanning over decades. — File Photo

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani left on a three-official day visit to Turkey on Monday to hold discussions with the Turkish President and the Prime Minister on bilateral and regional issues.

Talking to newsmen at Chaklala air force base, the Prime Minister said that Turkey and Pakistan enjoyed deep historical and cultural ties spanning over decades.

The ties of both the countries are based on shared values, mutual trust and a common vision, he added.

The Prime Minister is leading a delegation comprising Commerce Minister Makhdoom Amin Fahim, Petroleum Minister Syed Naveed Qamar, Minister for Water and Power Raja Pervaiz Ashraf, Minister for Railways Haji Ghulam Ahmed Bilour, Foreign Secretary Salman Bashir and Chairman Board of Investment Saleem Mandviwala.

Gilani along with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan will co-chair the inaugural session of High Level Cooperation Council (HLCC).

Both the countries along with Afghanistan are seeking to expand their trilateral cooperation in multidimensional fields, the Premier said adding that the trilateral cooperative relations would bring about regional stability and peace.

He said he and President Asif Zardari would soon visit Turkey for more rounds of trilateral talks to enhance regional cooperation.

Gilani said,”aim of his visit is to enhance bilateral ties with Turkey with particular focus on benefiting from each other in areas of economy, trade and investment”.

The brotherly countries will also search for more avenues to strengthen their collaboration in defence field, he added.

The Prime Minister said that the project of running of a goods train between Turkey and Pakistan would facilitate two-way trade.

Cabinet ministers and armed services chiefs saw off the Prime Minister and his delegation.

Follow Dawn Business on Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram and Facebook for insights on business, finance and tech from Pakistan and across the world.

Opinion

Editorial

Short-changed?
Updated 24 Nov, 2024

Short-changed?

As nations continue to argue, the international community must recognise that climate finance is not merely about numbers.
Overblown ‘threat’
24 Nov, 2024

Overblown ‘threat’

ON the eve of the PTI’s ‘do or die’ protest in the federal capital, there seemed to be little evidence of the...
Exclusive politics
24 Nov, 2024

Exclusive politics

THERE has been a gradual erasure of the voices of most marginalised groups from Pakistan’s mainstream political...
Counterterrorism plan
Updated 23 Nov, 2024

Counterterrorism plan

Lacunae in our counterterrorism efforts need to be plugged quickly.
Bullish stock market
23 Nov, 2024

Bullish stock market

NORMALLY, stock markets rise gradually. In recent months, however, Pakistan’s stock market has soared to one ...
Political misstep
Updated 23 Nov, 2024

Political misstep

To drag a critical ally like Saudi Arabia into unfounded conspiracies is detrimental to Pakistan’s foreign policy.