Turkish leader welcomes Pakistani premier with official ceremony

By Enes Kaplan

ANKARA (AA) - Türkiye's president on Wednesday welcomed the Pakistani prime minister with an official ceremony in the capital Ankara.

Recep Tayyip Erdogan and a Turkish delegation welcomed Shehbaz Sharif and his delegation – currently on a three-day official visit to Türkiye – at the presidential complex.

The leaders are set to have one-on-one talks before a meeting between the delegations, which will be followed by a signing ceremony of agreements and a joint news conference.

The leaders later will have a dinner together.

Among the participants in the ceremony were Türkiye's Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu, Treasury and Finance Minister Nureddin Nebati, Trade Minister Mehmet Mus, National Defense Minister Hulusi Akar, Agriculture and Forestry Minister Vahit Kirisci, and other officials.

Earlier in the day, Sharif visited Anitkabir, the mausoleum of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, founder of the Turkish Republic, and laid a wreath at his gravesite.

Paying tributes to Ataturk, Sharif wrote in the visitors' book: "Mustafa Kemal Ataturk remains an inspiration not only for Turks but for all freedom-loving people.

"His life is a lesson that there is no substitute for an indomitable spirit and clarity and strength of purpose."