News
Monday, November 05, 2012
PM asks Finnish businessmen to invest in Pakistan* Raja says country has investor-friendly policies
* Pakistan desires to further expand ties with Finland
VIENTIANE: Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf on Sunday asked Finnish businessmen to avail the investor-friendly opportunities being provided by Pakistan.
The prime minister, who arrived in Laos on Sunday to attend the Asia Europe Meeting (ASEM-9) summit, which is being held from November 5-6, made the offer in a meeting with his Finish counterpart Jyrki Katainen. Raja said that Pakistan desired to further expand the ties between the two countries. He extended an invitation to the Finnish prime minister to visit Pakistan, which he accepted. The Finnish prime minister appreciated the role being played by Pakistan in the region and expressed his country’s support to it.
Earlier, the prime minister was received by Laos Minister for Natural Resources and Environment Nulinh Sienbundhit, Pakistan’s Ambassador to Hanoi Shahid M Kiani and other senior officials at the Wattay International Airport. He was given a guard of honour, while girls attired in traditional dresses presented bouquets to him and members of his delegation. Raja, who will be participating in the summit at the invitation of the government of Laos, was accompanied by his wife Begum Nusrat Pervez Ashraf, Foreign Secretary Jalil Abbas Jilani and other senior officials.
The prime minister discussed the regional situation in his meeting with Finnish Prime Minister Jyrki Katainen. He said that Pakistan was working to improve relations with its neighbours. “We want good relations with neighbours and ties with India have improved over the years,” he said. As far as Afghanistan was concerned, he added, Pakistan wanted peace in that country. There should be an Afghan-led and Afghan-owned solution of the Afghan issue, he added. He said that Pakistan was fighting against terrorism, which it considered a threat to humanity.
The prime minister has a busy schedule during the summit. Besides delivering a statement at the summit, he will hold meetings with many heads of the state and government on its sidelines. He will hold a bilateral meeting with Laos Prime Minister Thongsing Thammavong and will also meet other world leaders, including Malaysian Prime Minister Dato Sri Najib Bin Tun Razak, Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Anatolyevich Medvedev and Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard. Prime Minister Raja is also expected to hold meetings with President of the European Council Van Rompuy and French President Francois Hollande today (Monday). Leaders from 49 countries have arrived here to attend the mega event.
Talking to reporters prior to his departure, the prime minister said ASEM was an important forum. “Our focus will be on socio-economic issues and how to tackle these,” he said. Raja said Pakistan has been actively participating in ASEM, and has been its member since 2006. He said the ASEM forum, having 51 states as its members, has great significance for Pakistan. He said he would also apprise the world leaders of the challenges facing Pakistan and how it was coping with them. The premier, while terming Laos an important regional country, having close ties with Pakistan, said he would discuss with its leaders ways to further strengthen ties between the two countries in all spheres. staff report/agencies
Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk