ANTALYA: Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Friday praised Shehbaz Sharif for his diplomatic efforts to promote peace in the Middle East, reaffirming that Turkiye would continue to support Pakistan’s initiatives in this regard.
The remarks came during a bilateral meeting between the two leaders on the sidelines of the Antalya Diplomacy Forum, where Erdogan welcomed the Pakistani premier and thanked him for attending the gathering.
Focus on regional peace
According to a statement from the Prime Minister’s Office, the meeting was held in a cordial atmosphere, with both leaders exchanging views on evolving regional developments, particularly the situation in the Middle East.
Prime Minister Shehbaz briefed Erdogan on Pakistan’s ongoing diplomatic efforts to sustain a ceasefire and facilitate renewed dialogue aimed at achieving a lasting peace agreement. He also expressed appreciation for Turkiye’s consistent support.
Erdogan, in turn, commended Pakistan’s role in promoting dialogue and emphasised the importance of utilising the current opportunity to advance durable peace in the region.
Strengthening bilateral ties
The two leaders reaffirmed the deep-rooted and historic ties between Pakistan and Turkiye, expressing satisfaction over the positive trajectory of bilateral relations.
They agreed to convene the 8th session of the High-Level Strategic Cooperation Council in Ankara later this year and stressed the need to accelerate ongoing joint initiatives while exploring new avenues for economic cooperation.
Part of broader diplomatic outreach
The meeting took place during the third leg of Prime Minister Shehbaz’s three-nation tour, following visits to Saudi Arabia and Qatar, where he held talks with Mohammed bin Salman and Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani.
On the sidelines of the forum, the prime minister also met several world leaders, including Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, Ilham Aliyev and Ahmed al-Sharaa, as part of Pakistan’s broader diplomatic engagement.
Both Ankara and Islamabad reiterated their commitment to strengthening their strategic partnership and working jointly for regional peace and stability.