NEW YORK: Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif met his Japanese counterpart on Tuesday at the sidelines of the United Nations 71st United Nations General Assembly and discussed a wide range of issues with him, which included the economy and terrorism.

PM Nawaz met Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and conveyed to him that Japan was a close friend of Pakistan and a partner in its progress. Shinzo Abe on the other hand praised Pakistan's efforts in defeating terrorism in the region and hailed the country's economic progress.

He also praised efforts of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif in maintaining cordial relations with Pakistan's neighbours. On the occasion, the Japanese premier also condemned acts of terrorism in Quetta and other cities of Pakistan.

Nawaz Sharif is in New York to meet world leaders ahead of the 71st United Nations General Assembly, where he is expected to highlight the issue of Indian atrocities in Indian-held Kashmir and the plight of the injured as well as martyred civilians in occupied Kashmir.

PM Nawaz meets with Turkish President

PM Nawaz Sharif also met with Turkish President Recep Erdogan on the same day. PM Nawaz expressed his relief and happiness of Erdogan's successful handling of the attempted coup a couple of months ago. This was the first time the two leaders had been meeting each other, after a deadly attempted coup in Turkey failed to overthrow Erdogan's government.

Both leaders discussed the issues and problems facing the Muslim world in South Asia, Middle East, Iraq, Syria and Indian occupied Kashmir. President Erdogan said that Turkey will make arrangements for sending a fact-finding mission to the IoK, in the capacity of the chair of Human Rights Commission of the OIC Contact Group. Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif thanked the Turkish President for his support.

The Turkish president said that Turkey and Pakistan were inseparable countries. PM Nawaz conveyed his condolences to the Turkish President for the recent acts of terrorism in Turkish cities that claimed numerous innocent lives.