ISLAMABAD – Pakistan has invited Turkey to join the multi-billion-dollar China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) projects, according to Radio Pakistan.

Talking to Ambassador of Turkey Ihsan Mustafa Yurdakul, National Assembly speaker Asad Qaiser said that both the brotherly Muslims countries have always stood together in times of need.

“Pakistan and Turkey are tied in bonds of common religion, culture and history. Pakistan highly values its relations with Turkey, and the new government desires to further strengthen relations between Islamabad and Ankara,” Qaiser added.

He further stressed upon the fact that the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor will be beneficial for all the countries of the region.

CPEC, a $64 billion mega project signed in 2014, aims to connect China’s strategically important northwestern Xinjiang province to Pakistan’s Gwadar Port through a network of roads, railways and pipelines to transport cargo, oil and gas.

The economic corridor will not only provide China with cheaper access to Africa and the Middle East but will also earn Pakistan billions of dollars for providing transit facilities to the world’s second-largest economy.

Ambassador of Turkey Ihsan Mustafa Yurdakul, during the meeting at Parliament House in Islamabad, said that his country is committed to further strengthening existing relations between the two countries.

“The Turkish people always consider Pakistan as their second home, and we wish to see this country always strong and prosperous,” Yurdakul said.

The top Turkish envoy also extended invitation to Asad Qaiser to attend 2nd League of Parliamentarian Conference for Al-Quds which will be held on 14th of next month in Istanbul.