PM Gilani to discuss wide-ranging ties with President Bush today

WASHINGTON: Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani and President George Bush will discuss bilateral cooperation in a host of areas including economic and security assistance, support for democracy and the fight against terrorism. The White House meeting will be the second between the two leaders as they met in Egypt earlier this year on the sidelines of a multilateral conference.
On his first visit to the United States, the prime minister is expected to emphasize the importance of broad-based and sustained relationship between the two nations.
He will strongly defend Islamabad’s commitment to fight extremism through a multi-pronged approach including political, economic and security measures. Vice President Dick Cheney will also attend the meeting.
Besides, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and Secretary of Homeland Security Michael Chertoff will also call on the Pakistani leader on Monday.
Pakistan’s ambassador to the United States says the prime minister’s meeting will signal the start of a new dimension in relationship between the world’s most significant emerging Muslim democracy and the world’s most influential democratic nation.
U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for South Asian Affairs Richard Boucher, Pakistan’s ambassador to the United States Husain Haqqani and senior American protocol officials received the prime minister when he arrived here Sunday afternoon.
The prime minister’s delegation includes Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi, Information Minister Sherry Rehman, Defence minister Ahmad Mukhtar and Minister for Water and Power Raja Pervaiz Ashraf, advisor to prime minister on Interior Rehman Malik, National Security Adviser Mahmud Ali Durrani and Advisor on Economic Affairs Hina Rabbani Khar.
The prime minister is also expected to have interaction with Senator John McCain and Senator Barack Obama, the presidential nominees of the Republican and Democratic parties respectively.
The Prime Minister is also scheduled to have interaction with the U.S. print and electronic media. Secretaries of Defense and Treasury will call on the prime minister on Tuesday.
On July 29, the Prime Minister will address investors round table on Pakistan’s power sector being organized with the World Bank and International Finance Corporation.