Taking root from the brotherly and historical relations between
our nations;
Recognizing with profound satisfaction the manner in which these
relations have developed and matured over the years through genuine goodwill,
respect, common interests and mutual cooperation;
Proceeding from a desire to further consolidate relations between
the two countries through intensified political and economic cooperation by
taking concrete and tangible steps in all spheres;
Welcoming the successful democratic election held in Pakistan in May
2013;
Emphasizing firm belief in democracy and expressing determination
to cooperate in the fulfillment of democratic ideals to the benefit of the
brotherly peoples of Turkey
and Pakistan ;
Convinced that the further comprehensive development of
bilateral ties would promote democracy, progress and prosperity in both states
and the region as a whole;
Endorsing the results of the meetings of the Joint Working
Groups of the High Level Cooperation Council held in Ankara on 5, 11 and 16 September 2013;
We as the co-chairs of the Third
Meeting of the High Level Cooperation Council (HLCC) held in Ankara, on 17
September 2013 with the participation of
-
H.E.
Bekir Bozdağ, Deputy Prime Minister, H.E. Erdoğan Bayraktar, Minister of
Environment and Urban Planning, H.E. Ahmet Davutoğlu, Minister of Foreign
Affairs, H.E. Taner Yıldız, Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, H.E.
Mustafa Sever, Deputy Minister of Economy,
-
H.E.
Muhammad Ishaq Dar, Minister of Finance, H.E. Khawaja Muhammad Asif, H.E.
Shahbaz Sharif, Chief Minister of Punjab, H.E. Khurram Dastgir Khan, Minister
of State for Commerce, H.E. Usman Ibrahim, Minister of State for Housing and
Works, Mr. Tariq Fatemi, Special Assistant to Prime Minister on Foreign
Affairs.
-
Other
prominent dignitaries and officials
Have decided as follows:
Political Cooperation
-
The
High Level Cooperation Council shall be renamed as the High Level Strategic
Cooperation Council (HLSCC) to truly reflect the strategic nature of our
relations.
-
The
HLSCC shall continue to be the main political forum that guides bilateral
relations in all fields.
-
Effective
implementation and follow-up of the decisions taken at the HLSCC meetings shall
be ensured.
- Intensive exchanges at the leadership level, parliamentarians,
businessmen as well as civil society and media representatives shall be furthered.
- Close cooperation at regional and international fora, including mutual
support to candidacies, shall be continued.
- The next annual consultations at the level of Foreign Ministers shall be
held in Islamabad
in the first quarter of 2014.
Energy Cooperation
- Enhancement of Cooperation in the energy field is a priority.
Opportunities in this sector shall be meticulously explored and promoted with a
view to further developing and expanding cooperation in all areas including
petroleum, natural gas, coal, hydroelectric, geothermal and renewable energy
resources such as wind and solar power.
- Cooperation in the field of coal mining and power generation shall be
developed through the exchange of expertise, exchange of scientific and
technical information, study visits and training. In this regard, Turkish
Mineral Research and Exploration General Directorate (MTA) and Turkish Coal
Enterprises (TKI) shall explore collaboration opportunities with their
Pakistani counterparts.
- Cooperation in power generation shall be enhanced by encouraging private
sector investment. To that end, private sector shall be provided the necessary
reassurances, including a favorable and secure investment climate.
- Private sector shall also be encouraged to invest in the development of
hydrocarbons including oil and natural gas, as well as in the mining sector.
- Cooperation in the field of hydrocarbon exploration and development
shall be developed through the exchange of expertise, scientific and technical
information, study visits and training. In this regard Pakistan Petroleum
Limited (PPL) and Oil and Gas Development Company Limited (OGDCL) shall explore
joint ventures opportunities with Turkish Petroleum
Corporation (TPAO).
-
Cooperation in the field of trade and
supply of petroleum products shall be strengthened.
Trade Cooperation
-
The current trade volume between Turkey
and Pakistan neither reflects the level of their excellent political relations
nor the potential of their respective economies. Therefore, all necessary
measures shall be taken with a view to increasing bilateral economic activities
and trade, including;
· Strengthening of
cooperation through existing mechanisms such as the Joint
Economic commission;
· Exploration of new venues of economic cooperation and development of appropriate measures for close commercial partnership;
· Diversification of trade;
· Exploration of new venues of economic cooperation and development of appropriate measures for close commercial partnership;
· Diversification of trade;
·
Facilitation of transportation of
merchandise;
·
Facilitation for
increased involvement of private sector in trade and commercial cooperation.
-
Results of the 5th Round of
Preferential Trade Agreement (PTA) negotiations held in Ankara on 10-11
September 2013 were welcomed and the competent
Ministries of the
two countries were directed to conclude their technical discussions
expeditiously in order to finalize the PTA at the earliest.
- Memorandum
of Understanding between Turkish Eximbank and its
Pakistani counterpart will provide an important instrument in helping increase
bilateral trade volume.
-
15th Session of the
Turkey-Pakistan Joint Economic Commission shall be held in the first half of
2014 in Ankara.
-
Encouragement of intensification of
contacts between business communities of the two countries is an essential
element of improving bilateral economic activities. The
Memoranda of Understanding between Ankara Chamber of Commerce and Islamabad Chamber
of Commerce and Industry and between Ankara Chamber of Commerce and Lahore
Chamber of Commerce and Industry are welcome steps which will help invigorate
contacts between business circles of the two countries.
Finance Cooperation
- Cooperation in the field of central financial auditing through training
and capacity building activities shall be explored.
- The Memoranda of Understanding between the tax revenue agencies of the two
countries, as well as between the Undersecretariat of Treasury of Turkey and
the Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan shall constitute useful
tools to advance inter-institutional cooperation.
Transportation
Cooperation
-
Transport connectivity is the lynchpin of
trade and commercial activities; overland, maritime and air connections shall
be improved and diversified. To that end;
- Renewal of the Memorandum of Understanding between Turkey and Pakistan on Civil Aviation will
improve commercial activities by bringing business communities of the two
countries closer through increased frequency of flights and destination points
between important business centers of the two countries.
- Railways are the backbone of the physical infrastructure for overland
trade. The
effective use of the Islamabad-Teheran-Istanbul Container Train (ECO Train)
will substantially contribute to overcoming the lack of strong logistics
connections between the two countries and help raising the level
of trade.
- A Memorandum of Understanding between TOBB and Pakistan Railways to
facilitate scheduled services would serve this purpose.
In this regard, cooperation to improve the rollback and rolling stock capacity
shall be developed.
Development Cooperation
-
Cooperation shall be developed in the
fields of municipal services, urban planning, low-cost public housing schemes
and environment.
- Housing
Development Administration of Turkey (TOKI) shall provide necessary assistance
to relevant Pakistani authorities in developing low-cost housing projects by
providing technical expertise, experience sharing and exchange of experts, on
the basis of the Memorandum of Understanding signed today.
- Friendship and Cooperation Protocol signed between the Greater Ankara Municipality
and Capital Development Authority (CDA) of Islamabad shall be effectively followed-up
and implemented.
- Collaboration on rural development programmes to curb poverty, as well
as, on agricultural infrastructure development, modern irrigation techniques
and land improvement shall be explored. Investment on agro-based industries
shall be encouraged.
Security Cooperation
-
Cooperation between the police agencies
of the two countries shall continue to be expanded including the capacity
building and police training activities.
- Security Cooperation Protocole signed between the competent authorities
of the two countries will provide the basis for cooperation in such fields as
counter-terrorism, crime scene investigation and forensics, MOBESE systems, as
well as training and personnel exchanges.
-
Finalization of the Agreement on the
Transfer of Offenders is a welcome step in completing the basic framework for cooperation
in the legal field.
Education, Culture and Science Cooperation
- Cooperation in the fields of education and training shall be
strengthened. Memorandum of Understanding on Cooperation in the Field of
Education and the Memorandum of Understanding on Vocational Training between
Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TIKA) and Ministry of
Inter-Provincial Coordination of Pakistan shall serve as the basis of this
cooperation.
-
Interaction between universities and
academic institutions shall be promoted and in this regard, collaboration on
higher education scholarships shall be continued.
- Direct contacts between scientific research institutions shall be
encouraged to enhance scientific and technological cooperation. Protocol on
Cooperation in Science and Technology between the Scientific and Technological
Research Council of Turkey (TUBITAK) and Pakistan Science Cooperation is an
important addition to the bilateral legal framework in this regard.
- The deep-rooted cultural relations between Turkey
and Pakistan
shall be fostered. To that end, the Agreement establishing Yunus Emre Cultural Centers
in Karachi and Lahore
and cultural centers to be established by Pakistan
in Turkey
will substantially contribute to the cultural relations of the two countries.
The centers shall begin their activities as soon as possible.
- The Cultural Exchange Program between the two countries is a practical
instrument that shall cultivate cultural interaction on a people-to-people
level. Its effective implementation shall give visible results in the form of
increased cultural contacts between the brotherly people of Turkey and Pakistan .
Tourism Cooperation
-
The Tourism and Culture
Joint Working Groups which were established at the first HLCC
meeting held on 7 December 2010 in Ankara
shall be merged into a single Joint Working Group titled “Tourism and Culture”.
- Reciprocal participation of sector representatives in tourism fairs
organized in both countries shall be encouraged. Mutual visits and
participation to international events by journalists, authors, scientists,
artists, students and tourism sector representatives who help shape public
opinion shall be encouraged.
- Cooperation in the field of tourism investment, expansion of investment
opportunities within the framework of national legislations and implementation
of expert exchange programmes shall be fostered.
- Cooperation among national tourism agencies, as well as private sector
companies and professional tourism organizations shall be encouraged by both
sides.
Follow-up
The six Joint Working Groups of the High Level Strategic Cooperation
Council shall continue their work to develop specific programmes and projects.
The next meeting of the High Level Strategic Cooperation Council shall
be held in Islamabad
in 2014. The dates shall be agreed upon through diplomatic channels.
Done in Ankara
on 17 September 2013 in Turkish and English languages, both texts being equally
authentic.
Signed....
Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, Prime Minister of the Republic of Turkey
Muhammad Nawaz Sharif, Prime Minister of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan
Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, Prime Minister of the Republic of Turkey
Muhammad Nawaz Sharif, Prime Minister of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan
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