H.E. Ahmet Davutoğlu, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Turkey, will pay a visit to Pakistan on 18-19 December 2013 to participate in the 16th Ministerial Council Meeting of the Developing 8 Countries (D-8), the foundation of which was pioneered by Turkey, to be held in Islamabad on 19 December 2013 and to have official contacts with the authorities of the host country.

The D-8, which was established by Turkey, Iran, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Malaysia, Indonesia, Egypt and Nigeria on 22 October 1996 has its Secretariat Istanbul and is aiming at developing co-operation in all fields amongst 8 developing countries of the Islamic World.

The 16th Ministerial Council Meeting will deal with the latest developments occurring since the last summit of the D-8 in Islamabad in 2012 and the activities carried out to achieve the objectives to turn the D-8 into a more effective organization by enhancing its visibility. Furthermore, an exchange of views will take place regarding the creation of a strong institutional basis for the D-8 and the projects of cooperation to be realized in the period ahead.

The meeting is of particular importance since it will be the last Ministerial Meeting before the Turkey’s takeover of the Chairmanship-in-Office of the D-8 during the next summit, which will be held in our country in the last quarter of next year.

On this occasion, Foreign Minister Davutoğlu is expected to have bilateral meetings with Foreign Ministers of the D-8 countries.

In their bilateral meetings, Foreign Minister Davutoğlu and Pakistani officials are expected to discuss Turkish-Pakistani bilateral relations and the current regional and international issues.