News
Thursday, April 29, 2010
Pakistan, Sri Lanka agree to promote defence, trade relations
* Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani calls for joint SAARC strategy to counter common challenges
* Condoles death of Nepalese FM’s fatherTHIMPHU: In a meeting between Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani and Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapakse on Wednesday, it was decided that bilateral relations in all fields, especially in defence, trade and commerce should be promoted.
During the meeting, which was also attended by Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi, both the leaders emphasised the need to strengthen the SAARC organisation for the betterment of the region.
Gilani said Pakistan greatly valued its traditionally close and cordial relationship with Sri Lanka, adding that both the countries had always stood by each other in difficult times.
He said both the countries shared commonality of views on numerous issues of mutual interest.
He said, “We should closely coordinate our positions on regional and international forums.”
He said Pakistan was happy to note that the Sri Lankan government had been able to defeat terrorism, adding that both the countries had been cooperating to defeat this menace.
Prime Minister Gilani said Pakistan had always supported the unity, territorial integrity and sovereignty of Sri Lanka.
He said despite its own economic difficulties, Pakistan would continue to contribute towards the socio-economic development of Sri Lanka.
He said it is gratifying to note that the volume of trade between the two countries had registered significant increase in the last four years after the signing of the Free Trade Agreement.
The prime minister said, “We should nonetheless keep striving, jointly, to further expand our commercial ties.”
He said services sector should be included in the FTA for promoting investment and trade facilitation between the two countries. The negotiations towards that end need to be fast-tracked, he added.
The prime minister emphasised the need to reactivate the Joint Economic Commission (JEC) to facilitate bilateral economic cooperation and monitor its progress as its last meeting was held way back in 2005.
Pakistan also invited a team of senior Sri Lankan officials to visit Islamabad to prepare the agenda of the next JEC meeting.
He said Pakistan would continue to assist Sri Lanka in military training and to fulfil its defence needs and requirements.
Pakistan also offered overhauling facilities for equipments of aircrafts of the Sri Lankan Air Force.
Joint strategy: Prime Minister Gilani also met Maldives’ President Mohamed Nasheed and congratulated him on his election as well as the restoration of constitutional democracy in the country.
Gilani called for a joint strategy to face the common challenges of energy shortage, water scarcity and management, environment as well as security issues facing the South Asian countries.
He expressed the hope that under the new leadership his country would make concerted efforts to reinvigorate bilateral ties particularly in the trade, economic, defence and social sectors.
He said Pakistan had identified projects worth Rs 9.8 million for Maldives and had offered 30 training slots for its armed and security persons during 2009-2010.
The prime minister urged the Maldivian government to expedite signing of bilateral counterterrorism agreement pending since last year. He also urged early signing of MoU on narcotic control. He said it would pave the way for promoting bilateral relations between the two countries.
He also called for early convening of Joint Economic Commission meeting for promoting trade and economic ties.
Gilani apprised the president of Maldives about the SAARC Interior Ministers’ meeting in Islamabad next month which will provide an opportunity to SAARC member states collectively and Pakistan and Maldives bilaterally to strengthen the cooperation in intelligence sharing and other related areas.
The president t of Maldives while reciprocating the feelings expressed by Gilani, lauded the dominant role politics was playing in addressing the issues in Pakistan and for sincerely confronting the challenges of security.
Condolence: Separately, Prime Minister Gilani condoled with Nepalese Foreign Minister Sujata Koirala on the death of her father, former Prime Minister GP Koirala.
Gilani who visited Nepal on Monday before coming to Bhutan, met the foreign minister to offer his condolences to her.
Sujata appreciated Gilani’s efforts in smooth passage of the 18th Amendment by parliament.
The foreign minister of Nepal praised Prime Minister Gilani’s efforts in smooth passage of the 18th Amendment through Pakistan parliament.
She said Benazir Bhutto and her father Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, the former prime ministers of Pakistan sacrificed for democracy. app
Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk