Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif took stock of regional developments and ongoing peace efforts in a trilateral meeting with the leaders of Türkiye and Qatar at the Antalya Diplomacy Forum on Friday.
The premier held a trilateral meeting with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan of the Republic of Türkiye and Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani on the sidelines of the 5th Antalya Diplomacy Forum.
“The three leaders exchanged views on recent regional developments and ongoing peace efforts. The worrying situation in Gaza and Palestine was also discussed. They agreed to continue close cooperation to further advance dialogue and diplomacy for lasting regional peace and stability,” said the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO).
Before that, the prime minister held a meeting with Erdogan on the forum’s sidelines.
Thanking PM Shehbaz for attending, he praised the premier’s peace efforts and said Türkiye would continue to support Pakistan’s diplomatic initiative to bring peace to the region.
PM Shehbaz congratulated the Turkish president on the success of the 5th Antalya Diplomacy Forum, which he said had transformed into an “important global event.”
“The two leaders exchanged views on recent regional developments, particularly the evolving situation in the Middle East. The prime minister thanked President Erdogan for his strong support and encouragement of Pakistan’s peace efforts and shared with him the updates on how to extend the ceasefire and resume talks so that a peace agreement could be reached.
“The two leaders emphasised the importance of effectively utilising the current window of opportunity to advance a durable and lasting regional peace. While reaffirming the deep-rooted, historic, and brotherly ties between Pakistan and Türkiye, both leaders expressed satisfaction at the positive trajectory of bilateral relations,” the PMO said.
It added that they agreed to convene the 8th High-Level Strategic Cooperation Council (HLSCC) meeting in Ankara later this year.
Both also emphasised the importance of expediting the implementation of ongoing initiatives and exploring new opportunities to further deepen economic engagement.
The PMO said the meeting concluded with both leaders reaffirming their resolve to further strengthen the strategic partnership between Pakistan and Türkiye, building on fraternal ties, and a shared vision for peace and prosperity.
PM Shehbaz said he thanked the Turkish president for his “warm welcome and generous hospitality”.
He further said: “I also congratulated President Erdogan on the continued success of the Antalya Diplomacy Forum as an important global platform for dialogue. We had a substantive exchange on regional developments, particularly the evolving situation in the Middle East. I deeply appreciate Türkiye’s steadfast support for Pakistan’s peace efforts.
“We reaffirmed our shared commitment to further strengthen our deep-rooted, brotherly ties and agreed to enhance our strategic partnership, expand economic cooperation, and continue to work together for peace and prosperity in the region and beyond.”
The prime minister also held informal meetings with many world leaders.
“The meetings took place in a cordial atmosphere. During the meetings, the prime minister remained the centre of attention for the global leaders. The meetings also involved an exchange of views on the global situation and regional developments,” the PMO said
Earlier in the day, an aide to United States President Donald Trump expressed appreciation for Pakistan’s role in regional stability during a meeting with PM Shehbaz.
The meeting with Senior Adviser to the US President for Arab and African Affairs Massad Boulos was held on the event’s sidelines.