President agrees to boost bilateral ties with Pakistan
Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani and President Mahinda Rajapaksa
on Tuesday expressed their strong desire to further strengthen
multi-faceted ties and cooperation in various fields including trade,
education, pharmaceuticals, engineering, railways, diplomatic training
and defence.
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President Mahinda Rajapaksa being greeted by Pakistan’s
Prime Minister Saed Yousoof Gilani. |
The two leaders, who met in Libya on the sidelines of the 40th
anniversary of Al-Fateh Revolution, discussed bilateral relations, and
other regional and international matters of mutual interest. It was the
fourth meeting between Prime Minister Gilani and President Rajapaksa
during the past one year, with the latest in Sharm El Sheikh last month
following their meetings at SAARC Summit and at the Beijing Olympics
last year.
Prime Minister Gilani and the Sri Lankan President appreciated the
fact that bilateral trade between the two countries had experienced a
quantum jump after the Free Trade Agreement. They agreed to broaden the
scope of FTA to services and investment. Pakistan’s exports to Sri Lanka
reached $214 million in 2007-08 as against $97.8 million in 2003-04
after the FTA between the two countries became effective in 2005.
Prime Minister Gilani also assured the Sri Lankan President that once
the investigations into the terrorist attack on Sri Lankan team in
Lahore are completed, Pakistan will share this information with Sri
Lanka.
It was agreed that the two countries will cooperate in investigations
through information sharing. Pakistan’s Interior Minister and the
investigating official will also visit Sri Lanka in this respect.
The two sides also discussed cooperation in the field of aviation,
with Sri Lanka seeking restart of PIA flights operation to Colombo and
for increased landing rights.
Prime Minister Gilani said Air Blue will start flights to Colombo,
adding, the Foreign Minister will also meet the Sri Lankan Aviation
Minister during his visit to Colombo for RCD (Regional Cooperation
Development) meeting in October this year.
The Sri Lankan President also offered cooperation for setting up of
Rural Tele Centers in Pakistan, which will enable the people in rural
areas particularly farmers to have access to latest information on
agriculture, health and other issues through computer.
Prime Minister Gilani felicitated the Sri Lankan President on their
victory over the LTTE and discussed the rehabilitation of displaced
people from the affected areas in Sri Lanka.
Pakistan has given $ 70,000 in economic assistance to Sri Lanka for
rehabilitation of their displaced people. The Prime Minister shared with
the Sri Lankan President Pakistan’s experience of handling the IDPs,
with particular reference to the presentation of Malakand Package before
the recent FODP ministerial meeting in Istanbul for reconstruction of
affected areas.
The two leaders also agreed to continue their multi-faceted
cooperation at the SAARC forum. Sri Lanka is the current chairman of the
SAARC (South Asia Association for Regional Cooperation), and the next
summit will be held in Bhutan in 2011. Prime Minister Gilani extended an
invitation to President Mahinda Rajapaksa for an official visit to
Pakistan, which he accepted.
Tripoli, Libya, Sep 1 APP |
