MoUs, agreements during Turkish PM’s visit expected

ISLAMABAD: In a bid to further deepen, broaden and strengthen bilateral relations leading into a durable strategic and economic partnership, Pakistan and Turkey will be signing a number of Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) and various agreements besides meeting at the highest level which would go a long way in contributing to the peace and prosperity of the two countries and advancing the shared goals of peace, stability and development in the region.
Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutolgu arrives today on a two-day official visit accompanied by a high-level delegation, including cabinet ministers, senior government officials and a representative delegation of Turkey’s top businessman.
A former foreign minister, this would be Ahmet’s first visit as prime minister where he together with Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif would co-chair the 4th meeting of the High Level Strategic Cooperation Council (HLSCC), where they would be joined by ministers from both sides.
Already all roads leading from the airport towards Islamabad have been decorated with portraits of the visiting dignitary. According to the spokesperson at the Foreign Office (FO), the HLCC was established at the prime ministerial level in October 2009. It has had three sessions so far: in Ankara in December 2010; Islamabad in May 2012; and Ankara in September 2013. At the 3rd session in 2013, the Council was renamed as “High Level Strategic Cooperation Council (HLSCC)” to reflect the strategic nature of the relationship.
“The HLSCC meeting would be preceded by the meetings of Joint Working Groups (JBGs) in 6 key areas — Finance and Banking; Trade; Energy; Transport and Communications; Education; and Culture and Tourism. Prior to HLSCC, the relevant Ministers would also have bilateral interactions and present outcomes of their deliberations at the HLSCC meeting”, added the spokesperson. Prime Minister Davutoglu besides attending a luncheon hosted by his Pakistani counterpart would also call on President Mamnoon Hussaid who would host a dinner in his honour.
Besides meeting with the media, the Turkish prime minister would also attend events related to the academia, culture and the media, and together with Sharif would The two Prime Ministers would also attend the Pakistan-Turkey Business Forum 2015.
Pakistan maintains that it enjoys a special relationship with Turkey which is marked by exceptional cordiality and deep mutual trust and understanding. The two countries have common perceptions on regional and international issues and work closely at regional and multilateral fora.
“Bilateral relations with Turkey have seen tremendous growth and dynamism in recent years. Consistent efforts are underway to give a central thrust to the trade, economic and investment dimensions of the relationship. There has been significant progress in diverse fields, including with the support of the Turkish private sector. These include: low cost housing, energy, municipal services including waste management, public transport, infrastructure development, vocational and skills development both for urban and rural areas as well as important social sectors like health and education”, said the spokesperson.