Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari has expressed his country's willingness to improve trade relations with Turkey, saying the two countries had a great potential for a solid economic partnership, Anadolu Agency reported.
"As we speak of strong a friendship and brotherhood between our two nations, we cannot speak of a parallel success in economic cooperation, trade and investment, which saddens us all. But we know that we have a great potential and we want to boost trade relations between Turkey and Pakistan," Zerdari told a joint press meeting with his Turkish counterpart Abdullah Gul in Islamabad.
Zerdari said the two countries eyed to increase their trade volume first to $2 billion and then to $5 billion in the shortest possible time.
The Pakistani president said Turkey and Pakistan shared a joint perspective to strengthen their strategic partnership as well.
Zerdari said the two countries were resolved to work together in the struggle against terrorism and extremism.
"We will continue fight a joint war on this menace which had claimed so many innocent lives in both Turkey and Pakistan," he said.
Zerdari affirmed that Pakistan shared a similar view with Turkey over Afghanistan, adding "we will continue to support Afghanistan in its efforts to reach a sustainable prosperity, peace and economic development."