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Friday, November 08, 2013
Pakistan, UAE to establish Joint Trade Council
* President for further strengthening Pak-UAE ties
* PM says Pakistan attaches special importance to ties with UAE
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and the United Arab Emirates on Thursday agreed to enhance bilateral economic cooperation and decided to establish Joint Trade Council to promote trade between the two countries.
Addressing a joint news conference along with UAE Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah Bin Zayed Al Nahyan after 11th session of the Joint Ministerial Commission on Thursday, Adviser on Foreign Affairs and National Security Sartaj Aziz said the two sides have decided to enhance their bilateral trade and investment.
He said the UAE foreign minister has come with a big trade delegation which is reflective of the brotherly country’s commitment to strengthen and expand economic relations with Pakistan.
Aziz said the two sides have agreed to translate the immense goodwill that exists between the leadership of the two countries for greater economic cooperation.
The advisor expressed satisfaction that bilateral trade between the two countries has crossed $10 billion mark and the UAE has become the largest trading partner of Pakistan. Replying to a question, Aziz said the Joint Business Council will have its first session in the first quarter of the next year.
Meanwhile, President Mamnoon Hussain Thursday emphasised the need for transforming the existing close and cordial relationship between Pakistan and UAE into a strong trade and economic partnership to the mutual benefit of the people of the two countries.
The president expressed satisfaction that the two-way trade between the two countries has increased progressively and said that Pakistan was keen to further strengthen and diversify bilateral cooperation in all fields, particularly trade and commerce.
The president said this in a meeting with Foreign Minister Al-Nahyan at the Presidency. The UAE foreign minister was accompanied by ambassador of UAE to Pakistan, Essa Abdullah Al Basha Al Noaimi and senior officials of the UAE Embassy.
From Pakistan’s side, those who attended the meeting included Foreign Secretary Jalil Abbas Jilani, Secretary to the President, Ahmad Farooq, Interior Secretary Shahid Khan, Petroleum and Natural Resources Secretary Abid Saeed, Press Secretary to the President Saba Mohsin Raza and Foreign Affairs Additional Secretary Naela Chohan.
Discussing Pak-UAE bilateral relations, President Mamnoon said that deep-rooted, close and fraternal relations between the two countries are bound by common faith and cultural affinities. He expressed confidence that the visit of the UAE foreign minister would provide new impetus and be a good opportunity to further strengthen our bilateral ties, especially in trade and economic relations.
The president said that the presence of a large number of Pakistanis in the UAE was a manifestation of the strong bonds that existed between the two countries.
Also, in his meeting with the UAE foreign minister Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif said that Pakistan attached special importance to its relations with the United Arab Emirates. During the meeting, views on bilateral and regional matters were exchanged.
The prime minister reaffirmed the importance Pakistan attached to brotherly relations with the UAE.
Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk