Turkish PM Arrives In Pakistan For 3-day Visit

Islamabad, May 21, IRNA -- Turkish Prime Minister, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, arrived in Pakistan on Sunday night on a three-day visit at the invitation of Prime Minister, Yusuf Raza Gilani, for wide-ranging talks, focusing on promotion of economic relations, officials said. Recep Tayyip Erdogan, leading a top delegation, was accorded a warm welcome on his arrival in Islamabad. Officials said it is fifth visit of Erdogan to Pakistan. Cabinet Minister Nazar Muhammad Gondal, senior officials and Turkish diplomats received Tayyip Erdogan at the Chaklala military airbase near Islamabad. Two children, attired in traditional dresses, presented a bouquet to Erdogan. The Turkish PM will hold talks with the top leadership of Pakistan on an entire gamut of bilateral relations to further deepen the multifaceted ties between the two brotherly countries. Officials say that reconciliation process in Afghanistan will also come under discussions as the two countries have a trilateral group on Afghanistan which also include Afghanistan. The Turkish Prime Minister will address the joint sitting of the Parliament on Monday evening. He also addressed Pakistan during his visit to Pakistan in 2009. Erdogan will also co-chair the second High Level Cooperation Council meeting along with Prime Minister Gilani. The first High Level Cooperation Council meeting was held in Turkey in which Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani represented Pakistan in December 2010. Both the leaders will address a joint press conference after inking five agreements of cooperation between the two countries at the Prime Minister House. The agreements will boost trade and economic relations between the two countries. The Prime Minister will host a state banquet and a luncheon respectively in honor of the visiting Turkish Prime Minister and members of his delegation. Gilani has invited leaders of all opposition parties to attend the banquet, setting aside political differences, the PM office said. The Government of Turkey bestowed a unique honor on Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani during his visit to Turkey in December 2010 where he addressed the Turkish Parliament, an honor usually reserved for heads of states. Prime Minister Gilani was the only head of the government, who was accorded very special honor to address the Turkish Parliament./end