PAKISTAN & TURKEY AGREE TO INCREASE BILATERAL TRADE

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 2 (Bernama) -- Pakistan and Turkey have agreed in
principle to increase trade between the two countries to US$2 billion from the
existing US$700 million.

The agreement was reached during a bilateral meeting between Pakistan's
foreign minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi and Turkish foreign minister Dr Ahmet
Davutoglu, on the sidelines of the D8 Council of Ministers meeting here Monday,
the Pakistan High Commission said in a statement here.

The Group of Eight Developing Islamic Countries (D8) was established
on June 15, 1997, in Istanbul, Turkey, and its members comprise Bangladesh,
Egypt, Indonesia, Iran, Malaysia, Nigeria, Pakistan and Turkey with a combined
population of 900 million. Malaysia took over the chairmanship of the D8 last
year.

The grouping aims to be the mechanism for cooperation in the economic sector
through sharing of expertise to improve the position of member countries in the
global economy.

According to the statement Pakistan and Turkey agreed that ongoing bilateral
relations will be strengthened further backed by high level exchanges of visits
between the two countries.

Qureshi also expressed confidence that the High-Level Cooperation Council
(HLCC) established during the recent visit of the Turkish Prime Minister, and
which would function under the patronage of the two Prime Ministers, will prove
as a solid forum to augment bilateral relations in trade, investment and other
identified fields.

The Pakistani foreign minister appreciated the consultations and
cooperation between Pakistan and Turkey in the Untied Nations, Economic
Cooperation Organisation (ECO), D-8 Forum and other international organisations.

He hoped that such cooperation would continue in furtherance of mutual and
regional interest in these fora.
--BERNAMA