Pakistani premier vows to strengthen ties with Turkey

The government and people of Pakistan greatly value brotherly ties with Turkey, and remain keen to further strengthen relations with the Turkish government, Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi said Monday.

Abbasi made the remarks during his meeting with Turkish Ambassador to Pakistan Sadik Babur Girgin, who met the country's new premier at his office in Islamabad, according to a statement released by the Prime Minister's Office.

Girgin delivered a letter of felicitation from Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan during the meeting.

The premier thanked the ambassador and said the government and people of Pakistan have close relations with Turkey based on shared history, common values and mutual interests.

"Pakistan and Turkey are two brotherly countries and during the last four years our bilateral relations have further deepened as well as broadened," Abbasi said, adding his country remains keen to further strengthen ties, particularly on the economic front.

The ambassador expressed the hope that the upward trajectory of Pakistan-Turkey relations would continue and would result in greater cooperation and collaboration between the two countries.