Türkiye, Pakistan determined to increase cooperation at all levels: Erdogan

ANKARA / ISTANBUL (AA) – Turkiye and Pakistan are determined to increase cooperation at all levels, including on bilateral and international platforms, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Wednesday, as he welcomed Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif at the presidential palace in Ankara.

“We have achieved the annual bilateral trade volume worth $1 billion, and are aiming to increase it to $5 billion,” the Turkish president said.

Türkiye and Pakistan signed seven agreements in various fields including trade, housing, debt management and transportation.

Erdogan said ensuring permanent stability in Afghanistan is of critical importance and “we are working together to help the Afghan people alleviate the effects of the humanitarian crisis.”

The country has remained in the grip of a severe humanitarian crisis since the Taliban takeover last August.

For his part, Prime Minister Sharif said the two sides will further bilateral ties with focus on trade, defense, energy, tourism and education, and that he looks forward to welcome Erdogan in Islamabad in September.

The Pakistani prime minister said he expects further cooperation in defense sector including in sale of Turkish-made ATAK helicopters.

The Pakistani prime minister also met Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu earlier in the day, and addressed Türkiye-Pakistan Business Council on Tuesday. His delegation includes Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari and Defense Minister Khawaja Asif.