PM’s address at SAARC reflects desire for peaceful ties: Siddiqui
Siddiqui says Nawaz has vision of dispute-free South Asia
APP
KATHMANDU –Special Assisstant on National Affairs Irfan Siddiqui on Thursday said that Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s comprehensive address at the 18th SAARC (South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation) summit reflects Pakistan’s desire for maintaining peaceful ties with South Asian countries.
Talking to journalists in Kathmandu, he said that the prime minister in his speech stressed the need for SAARC countries to resolve the problems of their people rather fighting with each other. Nawaz on Wednesday had said that his vision for the region was of a dispute-free South Asia where, instead of fighting against one another, the countries jointly fight poverty, illiteracy, diseases, malnourishment and unemployment.
Siddiqui said that the SAARC leaders in their bilateral meetings with Nawaz expressed resolve to enhance trade and business ties with Pakistan. On the sidelines of SAARC summit, the prime minister met Nepal’s Prime Minister Sushil Koirala, Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa, Maldives’ President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom, Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Haseena Wajid and Bhutan’s Prime Minister Lyonchhen Tshering Tobgay.
Siddiqui said that the round of meetings focused on bilateral relations and exploring new avenues for cooperation in diverse fields including science and technology. He said that Maldives had requested the Pakistan government to send doctors to work at its hospitals. The prime minister availed the opportunity of the regional summit to convey Pakistan’s point of view on issues of regional and international importance, and to seek greater economic cooperation with regional countries.
Earlier, Advisor on National Security and Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz, while briefing journalist in Kathmandu, said that focus of the talks was on regional cooperation, stronger economic interaction and increased trade as it was felt that the quantum of existing trade was not up to the potential. He said that the visits of Sri Lankan and Maldivian presidents to Pakistan, postponed earlier, were being rescheduled for early next year. The decision, he said that came during the prime minister’s bilateral meetings at Kathmandu.
Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk
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