ISLAMABAD: Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu is due in Islamabad tomorrow (Tuesday) on a two-day official visit to Pakistan, accompanied by a high- level delegation.
According to statement released by the Foreign Office, this will be first visit of Prime Minister Davutoglu to Pakistan since assuming office in August 2014.
The statement said that the programme for the Turkish premier's visit envisages tete-a-tete between the two prime ministers, a luncheon hosted by PM Nawaz Sharif, and a joint press stakeout.
“Prime Minister Davutoğlu would call on President Mamnoon Hussain, who would also host a dinner in honour of the visiting dignitary and the accompanying delegation,” the statement added.
The Foreign Office said that a number of MoUs and agreements are expected to be signed on the occasion.
The statement said that Nawaz and Davutoğlu will co-chair the 4th meeting of the Pakistan-Turkey High Level Strategic Cooperation Council (HLSCC) while the two Prime Ministers will also attend the Pakistan-Turkey Business Forum 2015.
“The HLSCC meeting would be preceded by the meetings of Joint Working Groups (JBGs) in 6 key areas including finance and banking, trade, energy, transport and communications; Education; and Culture and Tourism," it said.
“Prior to HLSCC, the relevant ministers would also have bilateral interactions and present outcomes of their deliberations at the HLSCC meeting,” it added.
The High Level Cooperation Council (HLCC) was established at the prime ministerial level in October 2009. It has had three sessions so far: in Ankara in December 2010; Islamabad in May 2012; and Ankara in September 2013.
At the 3rd session in 2013, the Council was renamed as “High Level Strategic Cooperation Council (HLSCC)” to reflect the strategic nature of the relationship.
The foreign office said that Pakistan and Turkey enjoy a special relationship marked by exceptional cordiality and deep mutual trust and understanding while the two countries have common perceptions on regional and international issues and work closely at regional and multilateral fora.
"The leadership in both countries remains strongly committed to further deepening, broadening and strengthening the bilateral relationship in every field,” it said.
