Zardari concludes visit to Lanka
November 30, 2010 07:05 pm
Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari today concluded his four-day official visit to Sri Lanka, with the two nations inking key agreements and seeking close cooperation to combat terrorism.
Economic and defence cooperation between two South Asian nations were the key subjects during the visit of Zardari, who became the first head of state to arrive here after President Mahinda Rajapaksa assumed duties for his second six-year term earlier this month.
During Zardari’s maiden visit to the country, four agreements were signed to enhance cooperation in minimising on visa restrictions for officials and diplomats, agricultural development, custom clearance and cultural exchange.
Zardari hoped that the visit would contribute to the enhancement of trade to reach USD 500 million within the next five years.
Addressing a business forum here yesterday, Zaradri called for a barter trade with Sri Lanka in preference to depending on dollar-denominated trade.
Zardari’s call to “lessening the pressure on foreign exchange reserves” of the two countries came after a series of bilateral talks with his counterpart Rajapaksa and other government officials.
The total turnover of bilateral trade in 2005 recorded USD 150 million, which grew up to USD 252 million in 2009, officials said.
Pakistan officials said Islamabad was seeking specilised training from Sri Lanka’’s elite Special Task Force and other specialised units to train its security forces in dealing with terror attacks.
“We have agreed to strengthen cooperation in counter terrorism. We can learn from your experience and expertise, and share views and experiences with you,” Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi, who is also a member of the official delegation, told the media.
Pakistan was a major supporter of the Lankan government during its war against the LTTE that came to an end last May, PTI reports.
Economic and defence cooperation between two South Asian nations were the key subjects during the visit of Zardari, who became the first head of state to arrive here after President Mahinda Rajapaksa assumed duties for his second six-year term earlier this month.
During Zardari’s maiden visit to the country, four agreements were signed to enhance cooperation in minimising on visa restrictions for officials and diplomats, agricultural development, custom clearance and cultural exchange.
Zardari hoped that the visit would contribute to the enhancement of trade to reach USD 500 million within the next five years.
Addressing a business forum here yesterday, Zaradri called for a barter trade with Sri Lanka in preference to depending on dollar-denominated trade.
Zardari’s call to “lessening the pressure on foreign exchange reserves” of the two countries came after a series of bilateral talks with his counterpart Rajapaksa and other government officials.
The total turnover of bilateral trade in 2005 recorded USD 150 million, which grew up to USD 252 million in 2009, officials said.
Pakistan officials said Islamabad was seeking specilised training from Sri Lanka’’s elite Special Task Force and other specialised units to train its security forces in dealing with terror attacks.
“We have agreed to strengthen cooperation in counter terrorism. We can learn from your experience and expertise, and share views and experiences with you,” Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi, who is also a member of the official delegation, told the media.
Pakistan was a major supporter of the Lankan government during its war against the LTTE that came to an end last May, PTI reports.