Pakistani President says willing to boost trade relations with Turkey

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."