Pakistan media extensively reported that Pakistan and Sri Lanka discussed a wide gamut of bilateral, regional and multilateral issues including cooperation in SAARC and the Commonwealth during the visit of External Affairs Minister Prof. G.L. Peiris to Islamabad and Karachi.
Prof. Peiris, who was on a two day official visit, called on President Asif Ali Zardari, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and Advisor to the Prime Minister on National Security and Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz and discussed a wide gamut of issues of bilateral interest.
Several leading media institutions, including Pakistan Today, Dawn, The News, The Nation and the Associated Press of Pakistan (APP), prominently covered the meetings Prof. Peiris had with President Zardari and Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif.
President Zardari during his meeting with the visiting minister at the Aiwan-e-Sadr, as reported in the Pakistani media, urged early conclusion of bilateral Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) between Pakistan and Sri Lanka and said it would broaden economic and business ties between the two countries.
The President said the economic partnership would boost investment and improve services, customs cooperation and standardisation. President Zardari called upon the business communities and Chambers of Commerce of Pakistan and Sri Lanka to play their vital role in fully exploiting the huge trade and business potential of the two countries in diverse fields.
He also called for making optimum utilisation of the available trade facilities and mechanisms between the two sides.
"The existing trade volume between the two countries can easily be jacked up to $2 billion by harnessing the huge trade potential in various fields especially financial and banking sector, science and technology, defence, agriculture, tourism, gems and jewellery," President Zardari is reported to have said.
Spokesperson to the President, Senator Farhatullah Babar had commented to the media that Pakistan-Sri Lanka bilateral relations, regional and international issues of mutual interest were discussed during the meeting.
President Zardari said Pakistan was keen to further deepen and diversify trade and commercial ties with Sri Lanka and in this regard called for making fully operational their Free Trade Agreement, the Customs Co-operation Agreement and the Bilateral Investment Treaty.
Recalling his meeting with President Mahinda Rajapaksa, the Pakistani President had said that the two countries have always enjoyed special bonds of affinity and their relations transcends governmental level and permeate to the level of the people, parliamentarians and business communities.
President Zardari had also said that Pakistan-Sri Lanka bilateral ties have been marked by a measure of consistency and commonality of views on important regional and global issues and the two countries have stood together and supported each other in all important matters concerning our two countries.
The media had widely reported that President Zardari had expressed satisfaction on the level of Pakistan-Sri Lankan close co-operation at the multilateral forums especially the UN and also at the SAARC level.
He had added that Pakistan has always supported Sri Lanka in its endeavour to defeat terrorism and reiterated that Pakistan would continue extending support to Sri Lanka at the UN Human Rights Council and UN Security Council.
Professor Peiris had stated that Sri Lanka values its relations with Pakistan and desires to further deepen and broaden it.
He said that the two countries would continue to stand together at regional and multilateral forums.
During his call on the Prime Minister, the minister also conveyed on behalf of the Sri Lankan President, warm felicitations to Nawaz Sharif on his assumption of the office and the government and people of Pakistan on the recent general elections, as reported in The News, Express Tribune and APP.
He updated the Prime Minister on the progress being made by his government to achieve post-war reconciliation as well as the rehabilitation of those affected by the war.
He expressed Sri Lanka's gratitude for Pakistan's continuing support in the rehabilitation efforts through a number of programmes.
He was thankful to the government of Pakistan for its support and commitment to Sri Lanka at the UN Human Rights Council and UN Security Council.
The Prime Minister, while reciprocating the warm sentiments conveyed by the President of Sri Lanka, stated that he looked forward to attending the CHOGM in Colombo and interacting with the Sri Lankan leadership.
He also expressed Pakistan's strong support and desire to work closely with Sri Lanka on the platform of Commonwealth. The Prime Minister said that Pakistan deeply admired Sri Lanka's unremitting endeavours for promoting economic independence, human dignity and social justice for the people of Sri Lanka.
He also appreciated Sri Lanka's commendable efforts in rehabilitation of the IDPs and reconstruction of the war-affected areas. The Prime Minister said that Pakistan has always supported Sri Lanka in its endeavour to defeat terrorism and expressed Pakistan's commitment to continue extending support to Sri Lanka at the UN Human Rights Council and UN Security Council.
According to the Pakistani media, Sharif had said that Pakistan deeply valued its relations with Sri Lanka which are characterised by cordiality and friendship.
He stressed the importance of deepening and broadening these ties by further increasing trade as well as investments and through regular contacts and exchange of visits.
He conveyed Pakistan's desire to deepen economic ties between the two countries and to conclude an early bilateral Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) with Sri Lanka.
"It would help broadening and deepening of economic and commercial relations by including key elements of investment, services, customs cooperation and standardization," the Prime Minister had added.
He said both the countries should work together for frequent and easier people to people contacts by promoting tourism.This, in turn would ensure regional security and stability, fundamental for fighting poverty and promoting economic growth and development.
"Therefore there is a need to renew efforts to realize the goal of achieving US $2 billion bilateral trade," the Prime Minister said.
Later, Prof Peiris also met with the Advisor to the Prime Minister on National Security & Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz and the two leaders discussed a wide gamut of bilateral, regional and multilateral issues including cooperation in SAARC and the Commonwealth. Both the Advisor and Sri Lankan minister agreed that the bilateral trade did not reflect the close and cordial relations that exist between the two countries and there was a need to enhance economic cooperation.
The Sri Lankan External Affairs Minister stated that dates of the next Joint Economic Commission (JEC) between the two countries would be shared with Pakistan soon.
Meeting of the JEC would go a long way in proposing ways and means of enhancing trade between the two countries. In a news item in the Frontier post, it was reported that the Sri Lankan External Affairs Minister stressed the importance of strengthening SAARC and sharing best practices within the region.
He believed that there was a lot of potential and expertise in SAARC which needed to be strengthened in a variety fields such as economic and social cooperation, poverty alleviation, human rights, academic exchanges etc.
As regards, cooperation in the Commonwealth, Minister Peiris stated that Sri Lanka would extend its support for Pakistan's candidature to the Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group (CMAG).
Several media institutions, including Pakistan Observer, Daily Times and The News, reported that the Sri Lankan External Affairs Minister had called on Finance Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar and discussed areas of economic cooperation and explored ways to enhance bilateral trade and economic relations between the two countries.
Senator Dar had said that the present volume of trade between the two countries does not reflect the depth and close relations between the two countries.
Pakistan, the finance minister said, accords great importance to its relations with Sri Lanka both as a member of SAARC as well a great friend of Pakistan.
The Sri Lankan minister thanked the government and people of Pakistan for their support and assistance to Sri Lanka in international forums and termed the relations between the two countries as excellent.
Peiris informed the finance minister about the forthcoming CHOGM scheduled for November this year in Colombo.
The Sri Lankan minister invited the finance minister to participate in the meeting and also address the business forum being held on the sidelines of the summit so that Sri Lanka can benefit from its rich experience.
The Sri Lankan minister also invited the finance minister to the Finance Minister's meeting of SAARC being held on August 30, 2013. He also expressed the hope that the finance minister would be able to attend the next meeting of the Joint Ministerial Commission of Pakistan and Sri Lanka expected to be held in Colombo later in the year.
The APP had reported on the meeting External Affairs Minister, Prof. G.L. Peiris had with Senior Sindh Minister, Nisar Ahmed Khuhro, at the CM House here in Karachi.
They had discussed bilateral relations and matters of mutual interests.
Khuhro while welcoming Prof. Peiris at the CM House, spoke of deep friendly ties between Pakistan and Sri Lanka which are growing further with the passage of time.
Courtesy : Daily News
Prof. Peiris, who was on a two day official visit, called on President Asif Ali Zardari, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and Advisor to the Prime Minister on National Security and Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz and discussed a wide gamut of issues of bilateral interest.
Several leading media institutions, including Pakistan Today, Dawn, The News, The Nation and the Associated Press of Pakistan (APP), prominently covered the meetings Prof. Peiris had with President Zardari and Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif.President Zardari during his meeting with the visiting minister at the Aiwan-e-Sadr, as reported in the Pakistani media, urged early conclusion of bilateral Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) between Pakistan and Sri Lanka and said it would broaden economic and business ties between the two countries.
The President said the economic partnership would boost investment and improve services, customs cooperation and standardisation. President Zardari called upon the business communities and Chambers of Commerce of Pakistan and Sri Lanka to play their vital role in fully exploiting the huge trade and business potential of the two countries in diverse fields.
He also called for making optimum utilisation of the available trade facilities and mechanisms between the two sides.
"The existing trade volume between the two countries can easily be jacked up to $2 billion by harnessing the huge trade potential in various fields especially financial and banking sector, science and technology, defence, agriculture, tourism, gems and jewellery," President Zardari is reported to have said.
Spokesperson to the President, Senator Farhatullah Babar had commented to the media that Pakistan-Sri Lanka bilateral relations, regional and international issues of mutual interest were discussed during the meeting.
President Zardari said Pakistan was keen to further deepen and diversify trade and commercial ties with Sri Lanka and in this regard called for making fully operational their Free Trade Agreement, the Customs Co-operation Agreement and the Bilateral Investment Treaty.
Recalling his meeting with President Mahinda Rajapaksa, the Pakistani President had said that the two countries have always enjoyed special bonds of affinity and their relations transcends governmental level and permeate to the level of the people, parliamentarians and business communities.
President Zardari had also said that Pakistan-Sri Lanka bilateral ties have been marked by a measure of consistency and commonality of views on important regional and global issues and the two countries have stood together and supported each other in all important matters concerning our two countries.
The media had widely reported that President Zardari had expressed satisfaction on the level of Pakistan-Sri Lankan close co-operation at the multilateral forums especially the UN and also at the SAARC level.
He had added that Pakistan has always supported Sri Lanka in its endeavour to defeat terrorism and reiterated that Pakistan would continue extending support to Sri Lanka at the UN Human Rights Council and UN Security Council.
Professor Peiris had stated that Sri Lanka values its relations with Pakistan and desires to further deepen and broaden it.
He said that the two countries would continue to stand together at regional and multilateral forums.
During his call on the Prime Minister, the minister also conveyed on behalf of the Sri Lankan President, warm felicitations to Nawaz Sharif on his assumption of the office and the government and people of Pakistan on the recent general elections, as reported in The News, Express Tribune and APP.
He updated the Prime Minister on the progress being made by his government to achieve post-war reconciliation as well as the rehabilitation of those affected by the war.
He expressed Sri Lanka's gratitude for Pakistan's continuing support in the rehabilitation efforts through a number of programmes.
He was thankful to the government of Pakistan for its support and commitment to Sri Lanka at the UN Human Rights Council and UN Security Council.
The Prime Minister, while reciprocating the warm sentiments conveyed by the President of Sri Lanka, stated that he looked forward to attending the CHOGM in Colombo and interacting with the Sri Lankan leadership.
He also expressed Pakistan's strong support and desire to work closely with Sri Lanka on the platform of Commonwealth. The Prime Minister said that Pakistan deeply admired Sri Lanka's unremitting endeavours for promoting economic independence, human dignity and social justice for the people of Sri Lanka.
He also appreciated Sri Lanka's commendable efforts in rehabilitation of the IDPs and reconstruction of the war-affected areas. The Prime Minister said that Pakistan has always supported Sri Lanka in its endeavour to defeat terrorism and expressed Pakistan's commitment to continue extending support to Sri Lanka at the UN Human Rights Council and UN Security Council.
According to the Pakistani media, Sharif had said that Pakistan deeply valued its relations with Sri Lanka which are characterised by cordiality and friendship.
He stressed the importance of deepening and broadening these ties by further increasing trade as well as investments and through regular contacts and exchange of visits.
He conveyed Pakistan's desire to deepen economic ties between the two countries and to conclude an early bilateral Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) with Sri Lanka.
"It would help broadening and deepening of economic and commercial relations by including key elements of investment, services, customs cooperation and standardization," the Prime Minister had added.
He said both the countries should work together for frequent and easier people to people contacts by promoting tourism.This, in turn would ensure regional security and stability, fundamental for fighting poverty and promoting economic growth and development.
"Therefore there is a need to renew efforts to realize the goal of achieving US $2 billion bilateral trade," the Prime Minister said.
Later, Prof Peiris also met with the Advisor to the Prime Minister on National Security & Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz and the two leaders discussed a wide gamut of bilateral, regional and multilateral issues including cooperation in SAARC and the Commonwealth. Both the Advisor and Sri Lankan minister agreed that the bilateral trade did not reflect the close and cordial relations that exist between the two countries and there was a need to enhance economic cooperation.
The Sri Lankan External Affairs Minister stated that dates of the next Joint Economic Commission (JEC) between the two countries would be shared with Pakistan soon.
Meeting of the JEC would go a long way in proposing ways and means of enhancing trade between the two countries. In a news item in the Frontier post, it was reported that the Sri Lankan External Affairs Minister stressed the importance of strengthening SAARC and sharing best practices within the region.
He believed that there was a lot of potential and expertise in SAARC which needed to be strengthened in a variety fields such as economic and social cooperation, poverty alleviation, human rights, academic exchanges etc.
As regards, cooperation in the Commonwealth, Minister Peiris stated that Sri Lanka would extend its support for Pakistan's candidature to the Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group (CMAG).
Several media institutions, including Pakistan Observer, Daily Times and The News, reported that the Sri Lankan External Affairs Minister had called on Finance Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar and discussed areas of economic cooperation and explored ways to enhance bilateral trade and economic relations between the two countries.
Senator Dar had said that the present volume of trade between the two countries does not reflect the depth and close relations between the two countries.
Pakistan, the finance minister said, accords great importance to its relations with Sri Lanka both as a member of SAARC as well a great friend of Pakistan.
The Sri Lankan minister thanked the government and people of Pakistan for their support and assistance to Sri Lanka in international forums and termed the relations between the two countries as excellent.
Peiris informed the finance minister about the forthcoming CHOGM scheduled for November this year in Colombo.
The Sri Lankan minister invited the finance minister to participate in the meeting and also address the business forum being held on the sidelines of the summit so that Sri Lanka can benefit from its rich experience.
The Sri Lankan minister also invited the finance minister to the Finance Minister's meeting of SAARC being held on August 30, 2013. He also expressed the hope that the finance minister would be able to attend the next meeting of the Joint Ministerial Commission of Pakistan and Sri Lanka expected to be held in Colombo later in the year.
The APP had reported on the meeting External Affairs Minister, Prof. G.L. Peiris had with Senior Sindh Minister, Nisar Ahmed Khuhro, at the CM House here in Karachi.
They had discussed bilateral relations and matters of mutual interests.
Khuhro while welcoming Prof. Peiris at the CM House, spoke of deep friendly ties between Pakistan and Sri Lanka which are growing further with the passage of time.
Courtesy : Daily News
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