Sri Lanka, Pakistan further expand and strengthen ties
President Rajapaksa meets Pakistan PM Gilani:
President Mahinda Rajapaksa met Pakistani Prime Minister Syed Yusuf
Raza Gilani in Male on Thursday on the sidelines of 17th SAARC Summit
and discussed bilateral relations.
Both leaders agreed to further expand and strengthen ties in
different fields, especially in trade, security, culture and
people-to-people contacts.
Prime Minister Gilani also exchanged views on the working of SAARC
and said that there was a need to make this organization more active for
the benefit of the people of the region and to promote trade and
economic activities in the region.
President Rajapaksa while thanking Pakistan and Prime Minister Gilani
for sending Buddha Relics to Sri Lanka said that it had promoted
cultural relations between the two countries.
He said this gesture of Pakistan had enhanced the strong relations
between the peoples of two countries and would play an important role in
further strengthening bilateral relations.
Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar and Interior Minister Rehman Malik
were also present at the meeting.
Earlier, addressing the 17th SAARC Summit, Prime Minister Gilani said
there was a need to bridge the gap between the promise of SAARC and
reality of its accomplishment needs. Highlighting the importance of
making SAARC a more vibrant organization, Gilani emphasised the need for
effective coordination among the member states.
Referring to the theme of the 17th SAARC Summit, "Building Bridges",
the Prime Minister said, "We should build on convergence, minimize
divergences and most of all seek to augment complementarities for the
greater good of the people of this region." The Prime Minister said
Pakistan attached high importance to SAARC, adding that the association
had come to epitomize the hopes and aspirations of the people of the
region for peace, progress and prosperity.
Referring to the aims and objectives of the organization, the Prime
Minister said the overcharging goals of SAARC were to promote welfare of
the people of South Asia and improve their quality of life. APP |
