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President for boosting Pak-Turkey ties

Staff Report

ISLAMABAD: President Asif Ali Zardari on Monday called for further improvement in the “already excellent relations” between Pakistan and Turkey at all levels.

Zardari was addressing a Turkish delegation – headed by Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan – that called on him at the Presidency. Matters related to bilateral ties, the strategic partnership between the two countries and broader economic activities were discussed at the meeting.

Zardari also conferred Nishan-e-Pakistan – the country’s highest civilian award – on the Turkish prime minister.

The president called for improvement in ties in all fields, including trade, defence, energy, commerce and communication.

“We attach great importance to operating a high speed cargo train from Islamabad to Istanbul, and Pakistan is [also] keen to upgrade its road and rail links with Turkey,” he said, and invited Turkish firms to undertake such projects in Pakistan.

Zardari also called for a framework of preferential trade with Turkey leading to a free-trade agreement.

The Turkish prime minister said, “Turkey will help Pakistan overcome its current difficulties … especially in the economic realm, and its ongoing struggle against militancy.” Later, the president hosted a lunch for the Turkish prime minister.

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