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Pakistan, Sri Lanka agree to promote bilateral relations in defence and trade
THIMPHU (Bhutan), Apr 28 (APP): Prime Minister Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani Wednesday called on President of Sri Lanka Mahinda Rajapakse and the two leaders agreed to promote their relations in all the fields especially in defence, trade and commerce. During the meeting, which was also attended by Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi, both the leaders also emphasized the need to strengthen the SAARC organization for the betterment and more development in the region.
Prime Minister felicitated Mahinda Rajapakse on his re- election for a second term as President of Sri Lanka as well as on United Peoples Freedom Alliance victory in the parliamentary elections.
He said Pakistan greatly values its traditionally close, cordial and mutually supportive relationship with Sri Lanka adding that both the countries have always stood by each other in difficult times.
Prime Minister Gilani said both the countries shared commonality of views on numerous issues of mutual interest.
He said, We should closely coordinate our positions on the regional and international fora.
He said that Pakistan is happy to note that Sri Lankan Government has been able to defeat terrorism. He said both the countries have been cooperating to defeat terrorism. Sri Lankan President thanked Pakistan for its cooperation and assistance in dealing the threat of terrorism.
He said Pakistan has always forcefully supported the unity, territorial integrity and sovereignty of Sri Lanka.
The Prime Minister said Pakistan despite its own economic difficulties will continue to contribute towards socio-economic development of Sri Lanka. He especially referred to Pakistans assistance under Special Assistance Programme for South Asia.
He said it is gratifying to note that volume of trade between two countries has registered significant increase in the last four years after the signing of 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 for reactivation of 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 for preparing the agenda of next JEC meeting in the near future.
He said Pakistan would continue to assist Sri Lanka in military training and to fulfill its defence needs and requirements.
Pakistan also offered overhauling facilities for equipments of aircrafts of Sri Lankan Air Force.
The Prime Minister also reiterated his earlier invitation extended to President of Sri Lanka to visit Pakistan.
Referring to role being played in SAARC, Prime Minister Gilani said both Pakistan and Sri Lanka are playing vital role in the organization and expressed satisfaction with the considerable progress SAARC has made in numerous fields.
The Prime Minister said both Pakistan and Sri Lanka should work closely together under SAARC to promote regional cooperation.
Prime Minister Gilani also appreciated the Sri Lanka-Pakistan Parliamentary Group especially comprising young parliamentarians. He said it would help to promote bilateral relations.
Both the countries also agreed to adopt joint strategy and initiate joint ventures to overcome the power and water crisis in the region.
Prime Minister Gilani thanked the Sri Lankan President for sending their cricket team when the world was not coming to Pakistan. He said it gave encouragement to Pakistan but regretted the unfortunate incident on this occasion in Lahore.
The Prime Minister told the Sri Lankan President that both the countries are cooperating with each other in the investigation of attack on cricket team in Lahore.
Associated Press Of Pakistan ( Pakistan's Premier NEWS Agency ) - Pakistan, Sri Lanka agree to promote bilateral relations in defence and trade
THIMPHU (Bhutan), Apr 28 (APP): Prime Minister Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani Wednesday called on President of Sri Lanka Mahinda Rajapakse and the two leaders agreed to promote their relations in all the fields especially in defence, trade and commerce. During the meeting, which was also attended by Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi, both the leaders also emphasized the need to strengthen the SAARC organization for the betterment and more development in the region.
Prime Minister felicitated Mahinda Rajapakse on his re- election for a second term as President of Sri Lanka as well as on United Peoples Freedom Alliance victory in the parliamentary elections.
He said Pakistan greatly values its traditionally close, cordial and mutually supportive relationship with Sri Lanka adding that both the countries have always stood by each other in difficult times.
Prime Minister Gilani said both the countries shared commonality of views on numerous issues of mutual interest.
He said, We should closely coordinate our positions on the regional and international fora.
He said that Pakistan is happy to note that Sri Lankan Government has been able to defeat terrorism. He said both the countries have been cooperating to defeat terrorism. Sri Lankan President thanked Pakistan for its cooperation and assistance in dealing the threat of terrorism.
He said Pakistan has always forcefully supported the unity, territorial integrity and sovereignty of Sri Lanka.
The Prime Minister said Pakistan despite its own economic difficulties will continue to contribute towards socio-economic development of Sri Lanka. He especially referred to Pakistans assistance under Special Assistance Programme for South Asia.
He said it is gratifying to note that volume of trade between two countries has registered significant increase in the last four years after the signing of 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 for reactivation of 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 for preparing the agenda of next JEC meeting in the near future.
He said Pakistan would continue to assist Sri Lanka in military training and to fulfill its defence needs and requirements.
Pakistan also offered overhauling facilities for equipments of aircrafts of Sri Lankan Air Force.
The Prime Minister also reiterated his earlier invitation extended to President of Sri Lanka to visit Pakistan.
Referring to role being played in SAARC, Prime Minister Gilani said both Pakistan and Sri Lanka are playing vital role in the organization and expressed satisfaction with the considerable progress SAARC has made in numerous fields.
The Prime Minister said both Pakistan and Sri Lanka should work closely together under SAARC to promote regional cooperation.
Prime Minister Gilani also appreciated the Sri Lanka-Pakistan Parliamentary Group especially comprising young parliamentarians. He said it would help to promote bilateral relations.
Both the countries also agreed to adopt joint strategy and initiate joint ventures to overcome the power and water crisis in the region.
Prime Minister Gilani thanked the Sri Lankan President for sending their cricket team when the world was not coming to Pakistan. He said it gave encouragement to Pakistan but regretted the unfortunate incident on this occasion in Lahore.
The Prime Minister told the Sri Lankan President that both the countries are cooperating with each other in the investigation of attack on cricket team in Lahore.
Associated Press Of Pakistan ( Pakistan's Premier NEWS Agency ) - Pakistan, Sri Lanka agree to promote bilateral relations in defence and trade