Gul receives Pakistan's Zardari

President Abdullah Gul on Friday received Asif Ali Zardari, the co-chair of the ruling Pakistan People's Party (PPP) and widower of assassinated former Pakistani Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto. Zardari also met with Prime Minster Recep Tayyip Erdogan, and held talks with main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) leader Deniz Baykal. His meetings with Gul and Erdogan focused on strengthening the two countries' traditional friendly and cooperative ties. Zardari also met with representatives of 15 leading Turkish companies in Istanbul, and urged Turkish investment in Pakistan, especially in the tourism, construction and energy sectors. Thanks to its better relations with India, Pakistan offers great investment opportunities to foreign investors, said Zardari. He added that the Pakistani people and government are committed to improving ties with Turkey. Zardari said that his country now has a democratic government, but added that it has a long way to go to achieve its goals for development and democracy. Zardari shares the PPP chairmanship with his son Bilawal Bhutto Zardari.