SHARM El-SHEIKH: Pakistan and United States Sunday vowed to enhance their bilateral economic cooperation and affirmed the resolve to transform existing relations into long-term strategic partnership. Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani and U.S. President George W. Bush who met here on the sidelines of World Economic Forum on Middle East, discussed ways and means to enhance economic cooperation between United States and Pakistan in diverse fields.
President Bush said the U.S government wanted to strengthen its relations with Pakistan on strategic level and would continue to work with the new government in Pakistan extending all cooperation.
Bush appreciated Pakistan’s role in war against terrorism and said it was making serious efforts to ensure peace and stability in the region.
He mentioned Pakistan’s initiatives to curb the menace of terrorism and extremism, posing threat to the entire world, and appreciated the fact that the people of Pakistan were willing to fight against terrorism.
“The Prime Minister and I talked about our common desire to protect ourselves and others from those who could do harm...I am thankful for the steadfast support from Pakistan,” he told media after his around an hour-long meeting with Prime Minister Gilani in the red sea resort.
Prime Minister Gilani said he discussed with President Bush the threat faced to the world by extremism and terrorism, adding the new democratic government was well-placed to deal with the issue of terrorism.
“Our government is committed to fight against terrorism as it is against humanity. We have lost our great leader Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto because of terrorism. We stand by the world in the fight against terrorism.”
The two leaders also discussed ways and means to enhance economic cooperation between United States and Pakistan and urged for expanding bilateral ties in the fields of defence, commerce and socio-economic uplift.
Prime Minister Gilani said, “I appreciate support of President Bush to our country on social sector, economy and energy...We want to work together on these matters.”
President Bush said, “I appreciate the discussion we had, appreciate the fact that we are committed to working to further strengthen relations that are strong, vibrant and productive.”
President Bush said relations between Pakistan and United States were good and would continue to be good.
“This meeting will help advance these relations,” he added.
Gilani said there was a change in the system with the formation of new democratic government in Pakistan.
He said, “I have been unanimously elected as Prime Minister of Pakistan. This is for the first time in the history of parliament in the country and reflects the desire of the people to see a visible change in the system.”
During the talks, the two leaders also discussed situation in Afghanistan.
They noted that both Pakistan and Afghanistan needed to jointly play their roles in ensuring stability in the region by taking effective measures within their borders.
Prime Minister Gilani said Pakistan had played role of a frontline state in war against terrorism and would continue to fighting against terrorists.
He mentioned the government’s three-pronged strategy with specific focus on political dialogue and socio-economic uplift of the tribal people, being implemented in tribal areas to eradicate extremism.
President Bush said Pakistan was dealing with serious issues including the food crisis.
“I told the Prime Minister that we can talk to President of Afghanistan to make his country self-sufficient to reduce pressure on Pakistan.”
From President Bush’s side, the meeting was attended by U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, National Security Advisor Stephen Hadley and Richard Boucher, Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs, while the Pakistani side included Special Assistant to Prime Minister on Economic Affairs Hina Rabbani Khar, Special Assistant to PM Shahnaz Wazir Ali and Environment Minister Hameedullah Jan Afridi.
Later, Special Assistants to PM Hina Rabbani Khar and Shahnaz Wazir Ali briefed the media about the meeting and said the major focus of the talks was economic cooperation, besides terrorism and socio-economic reforms.
Ms Khar said Pakistan’s relations with neighbouring countries also came under discussion with specific focus on ties with India.
She quoted President Bush who said that it was the right time for the resolution of Kashmir issue.
Shahnaz Wazir Ali referred to Bush’s statement on Pakistan’s internal matters such as relating to judges issue, which he said should be dealt by Pakistan itself.
She said President Bush also mentioned the summary for the establishment of Reconstruction Opportunity Zones in tribal areas, which had been forwarded to U.S Congress for approval.
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