By Anzal Amin
ISLAMABAD: President Asif Ali Zardari on Wednesday called for further enhancing bilateral cooperation with Turkiye in the areas of trade, economy, education and culture.
The president, talking to Ambassador of Turkiye in Pakistan Dr Mehmet Pacaci, who called on him, said that Turkish companies should benefit from the investment-friendly policies of the country and invest through the Pakistan Stock Exchange.
Welcoming the ambassador, the president said that the people of Pakistan and Turkiye had historic and long-standing ties, adding that the two nations had always supported and stood by each other in difficult times.
President Zardari stated that Pakistan could benefit from the Turkish development experience, especially in the area of infrastructure development.
In order to promote regional connectivity, he suggested undertaking a joint feasibility study to establish a railway connection between the two brotherly countries.
The president also underlined the need for increasing educational and cultural exchanges to further promote people-to-people contacts. He said that Pakistan looked forward to welcoming Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan to the 7th High-Level Strategic Cooperation Council session in Pakistan. President Zardari also expressed his gratitude for President Erdoğan’s congratulatory messages on his election as President of Pakistan as well as at the beginning of Holy Ramazan.
He also conveyed his warm greetings and sentiments for the future success of the Turkish president.
Earlier, President Asif Ali Zardari on Thursday said that Pakistan desired to enhance bilateral cooperation with Russia, particularly in the fields of energy and barter trade. The president, in a meeting with Russian Ambassador in Islamabad Albert P. Khorev, who called on him here, emphasized that Russian banks should be persuaded to launch their operations in Pakistan to promote bilateral trade.
He also called for strengthening cultural linkages between Pakistan and Russia particularly in the fields of TV and films industries.
President Zardari conveyed his message of felicitation to Russian President Vladimir Putin on his re-election and expressed good wishes for him.
He expressed the hope that under Presidnet Putin’s leadership, Russia would achieve swift development besides promoting regional peace.
He also expressed condolence over the death of 130 people in a terrorist attack took place on March 22 in Moscow.
Ambassador Albert Khorev told the president that Russia desired to play its part in the economic development and prosperity of Pakistan and that both countries were cooperating on mutual issues like anti-terrorism and drugs trafficking.
The ambassador said that Russia desired to double the existing volume of bilateral trade with Pakistan.
He thanked President Zardari for expressing condolence over the deaths in March 22 terrorist attack in the Russian capital.
The envoy also felicitated Presidnet Zardari on assuming the office.
