Turkish President Erdogan Begins Two-Day State Visit in Pakistan
In February 2020, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan visited Pakistan for a two-day official trip, leading a high-level delegation that included ministers, senior officials, and corporate leaders. The visit aimed to strengthen bilateral relations between the two nations [1].
Upon arrival at Nur Khan Airbase, Erdogan was warmly welcomed by Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and his Cabinet members. The First Lady, Emine Erdogan, also accompanied the President [2].
The highlight of the visit was the 7th Session of the Pakistan-Turkiye High Level Strategic Cooperation Council (HLSCC), co-chaired by Erdogan and Khan. This meeting, established in 2009, provides a platform for consultations across various sectors such as trade, investment, culture, tourism, energy, defense, and agriculture [1].
Several Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) and important agreements were signed during the visit, aiming to boost cooperation in bilateral trade and investment. Both countries expressed their intentions to raise the bilateral trade to $5 billion, signifying a significant increase in economic collaboration [1][3].
Defense cooperation was a key focus, with discussions on modernizing military hardware, joint exercises, and counterterrorism initiatives. Turkish defense firms have been involved in supplying military equipment and technology to Pakistan [2][3].
Turkey's continued solidarity with Pakistan on key regional issues, including Kashmir, was underscored during the visit. Erdogan called for restraint and de-escalation in South Asia following tensions related to the Kashmir conflict, reinforcing Turkey’s support for Pakistan on these matters [2][4].
Talks also included cooperation in energy sectors, with plans for Turkish participation in projects like offshore drilling and electricity sector privatization in Pakistan [3]. Discussions about establishing a special economic zone for Turkish entrepreneurs in Karachi to foster investment and business ties between the two countries were also held [3].
Before the HLSCC session, the two leaders held discussions on a wide range of global and regional affairs. Erdogan also met Pakistan's President Arif Alvi separately [5].
In addition to the high-level meetings, Erdogan addressed the Pakistan-Turkey Business and Investment Forum and was scheduled to address a joint session of the Pakistani parliament for the fourth time on Friday [6].
This article has been adapted from its original source by SyndiGate.info. Upon arrival, two children presented bouquets to the president and the first lady.
Sally Shakkour, the leader of the English news team and a news and breaking news writer with over 6-year experience in publishing content and digital journalism, was responsible for writing original node stories and monitoring Al Bawaba's social media accounts during the visit [7]. During the visit, Pakistan's Prime Minister Imran Khan himself drove the president to the Prime Minister House [8].
- The 7th Session of the Pakistan-Turkiye High Level Strategic Cooperation Council discussed matters across various sectors, such as trade, investment, defense, culture, tourism, energy, and agriculture, aiming to boost cooperation in these areas, including signing several Memorandums of Understanding and important agreements.
- Turkey's support for Pakistan in key regional issues, such as Kashmir, was evident during President Erdogan's visit, as he called for restraint and de-escalation in South Asia.
- In addition to high-level political discussions, President Erdogan spoke at the Pakistan-Turkey Business and Investment Forum and addressed a joint session of the Pakistani parliament, emphasizing the importance of economic collaboration between the two nations, including plans for establishing a special economic zone for Turkish entrepreneurs in Karachi.
