—— “CPEC is a roaring success” tells Turkish Vice President
—— Asserts Turkiye as a ‘natural partner’ of Pakistan
—— Launches 4th MILGEM Class Corvette Ship PNS Tariq into sea
—— Stresses strengthening Pakistan Navy
—— Both sides agree to maintain close coordination for further improvement in relations
From Zeeshan Mirza
Karachi: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday renewed his invitation to Turkiye for joining the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), citing the latter as a “natural partner”.
The premier made the remarks while addressing the launch of the fourth Milgem class corvette at the Karachi Shipyard, where Turkiye Vice President Cevdet Yilmaz was also present.
In November last year, the premier had invited Turkiye to join CPEC to bring about regional prosperity, alleviate poverty and empower people through better education and health facilities.
Months earlier, he had proposed turning CPEC into a “trilateral arrangement” between China, Pakistan and Turkey so that all three nations could benefit from its potential.
Addressing the ceremony in Karachi today, the premier said that Port Qasim was a hub but there was a need to link it with Gwadar, where business had “just started”.
“CPEC is a roaring success,” the premier said, as he noted that Pakistan and China had recently agreed to launch the second phase of the project.
“This will be in multiple directions […] and this is bound to increase the quantum of business transactions through sea and land between China and Pakistan, and in that Turkiye is a natural partner.
“I would like to once again renew this invitation that let us join hands in this wonderful story of mutual, joint progress and prosperity,” Shehbaz said.
At the outset of his speech, the premier said that the relations between the two countries were “deep-rooted and historic”.
“We are united by a common faith, heritage and civilisation and we share our perspectives on regional and global issues. The relations between our two countries predate the establishment of Pakistan,” he said.
“We celebrate each others’ success stories and stand together in the face of challenges,” the premier said as he recalled the visit of Turkiye President Tayyip Erdogan during the 2010 floods.
PM Shehbaz further said that Turkiye also stood by Pakistan during last year’s devastating floods, saying that it was “very valuable and timely help”.
He said that the launch of the warship was another example of the countries’ commitment to supporting the other and to strengthen trade, industry and economic cooperation.
“I think it is high time we further enhance our strategic cooperation and add onto this wonderful joint venture in many other areas,” he said.
Moreover, In a veiled attack on India, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said Wednesday certain elements were in the race to establish their hegemony in the region.
“Certain actors in the region trying to establish their hegemony and create a sphere of influence. It is all the more important that we strengthen our navy and our maritime activities,” the premier said, a day after offering New Dehli to hold talks with Islamabad.
The prime minister’s comments came as he launched the fourth MILGEM Class Corvette Ship PNS Tariq into the sea during a ceremony held at the Karachi Shipyard.
Signed in 2018, the MILGEM project envisages the construction of four Corvettes for the Pakistan Navy – two in Pakistan and two in Turkiye.
Pakistan and India’s ties have mostly remained strained since their independence in 1947 and have fought three wars — in 1948, 1965, and 1971.
But the bilateral relations have come to a virtual halt after India revoked the special status of occupied Jammu and Kashmir in August 2019.
The prime minister, however, had a day earlier said he was ready to talk to India if the nuclear-armed neighbour was “serious to talk serious matters on the table because war is no more an option”.
To ensure that the enemy does not think about attacking Pakistan, the premier told the naval officials present on the occasion that the government is fully ready to provide “all resources at your disposal so that […] security is augmented and becomes ironclad for all times to come”. Vice President of Turkiye Cevdet Yilmaz was also present in the ceremony as guest of honour.
Federal ministers Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, Ahsan Iqbal, Syed Naveed Qamar, and Israr Tareen, Sindh Governor Kamran Tessori, and Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah also attended the ceremony.
Moreover, Pakistan and Turkiye on Wednesday agreed to continue close coordination and engagement through well-established bilateral mechanisms to continue with the upwards trajectory of bilateral relations.
The bilateral relations were discussed in a meeting between Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and visiting Turkish Vice President Cevdet Yilmaz, here, after they jointly launched PNS Tariq Corvette.
The two leaders discussed wide-ranging issues encompassing bilateral relations, the regional situation and other areas of mutual interest.
Appreciating the strong bilateral cooperation, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif stressed the importance of transforming the brotherly relations into mutually rewarding trade and economic ties. He underscored the importance of enhancing people-to-people contacts and joint collaborations in R&D, IT, energy, infrastructure, food security, tourism and mining sectors.
