The government and people of Pakistan value their close ties with Turkey and remain keen to further strengthen relations with the Turkish government, Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi said Monday.

Abbasi made the remarks during his meeting with Turkish Ambassador to Pakistan Sadık Babur Girgin, who met the country's new premier at his office in Islamabad, according to a statement released by the prime minister's office. Girgin delivered a letter of appreciation from Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan during the meeting.

The premier thanked the ambassador and said the government and people of Pakistan have close relations with Turkey based on shared history, common values and mutual interests. "Pakistan and Turkey are two brotherly countries, and during the last four years, our bilateral relations have further deepened as well as broadened," Abbasi said, adding his country remains keen to further strengthen ties, particularly on the economic front.