Saleh and Musharraf talk over economic ties
ISLAMABAD, Apr 10 (Saba) – President Ali Abdullah Saleh and his Pakistani
counterpart Pervez Musharraf held close talks in Awan Sadr Palace.
Saba was informed that talks focused on enhancing political, economic, cultural and security cooperation between the two countries.
The two leaders also discussed coordinating efforts over fighting terror within the international efforts. They agreed that terror threatens peace and security in the world.
President Ali Abdullah Saleh and his Pakistani counterpart Pervez Musharraf
agreed to revitalize private sector participation for increased bilateral
commerce and economic ties, reaffirming their commitment to forging cooperation in terrorism jointly.
At bilateral talks, the two leaders focused on consolidating economic and trade ties.
President Saleh, in his post-talks comments, described the bilateral talks as extremely productive and positive vis a vis setting pace for diverse relations between the two countries.
“We have agreed to explore more horizons for giving depth and expansion to our bilateral ties,” he said.
Ali Abdullah Saleh praised President Musharraf’s efforts for socio-economic
plift of the Muslims.
“I fully support President Musharraf’s call for increasing intra-OIC trade as the Muslim world has both potential and resources to bring about their collective economic well being.
He said bilateral cooperation in the field of security would be beneficial for both the countries.
The balance of trade between the two countries has remained favourable to Pakistan and exports have registered continued increase in the last few years. In 2004-05, Pakistan’s exports to the Arab country stood as
US dollars 57.8 million, while its imports totaled just US dollars 5 million.
At the bilateral talks, President Musharraf was assisted by Foreign Minister Khurshid Mehmood Kasuri, Information Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed, Minister for Science and Technology Nouraiz Shakoor, Education Minister
Javed Ashraf Qazi and Chairman Export Promotion Bureau Tariq Ikram.
President Musharraf, later, told a joint press conference that Pakistan and Yemen have tremendous scope for investment, joint ventures and their private sectors can identify products for bilateral trade.
“The government will facilitate the private sector, which should explore new areas of commerce and economic cooperation – this way we will be able to give further strength to our excellent political and diplomatic relations- we will have broad-based ties with Yemen,” he stated.
The Pakistan leader said his country would also cooperate with Yemen in meeting needs of Yemeni police and security forces.
“We will also cooperate with Yemen in the area of defense production and security related areas.”
Musharraf said, the two countries have agreed to intensify intelligence cooperation to combat terrorism and extremism jointly.
“We have decided to closely cooperate in the intelligence field so that we can have a joint strategy against terrorism.”
President Musharraf, who visited Yemen in December 2005, also vowed to open doors of Pakistani universities to Yemeni students, especially its new soon-to-be-established science and technology institutions of higher
learning.
President Musharraf also thanked the visiting leader, for Yemeni nation’s
support in the wake of October 8, 2005 earthquake.
They also exchanged wide-ranging views on the latest Islamic and international developments of common concern at the top of which the condition in Iraq, Palestine, Afghanistan and Somalia as well as coordinating positions of
the two countries to serve Islamic sodality and activating the role of the Organization of Islamic Conference.
Following the bilateral talks, Pakistan and Yemen signed a series of agreements
to promote cooperation in the fields of media, tourism, sports as the two sides expressed a firm resolve to expand their bilateral ties in a number of areas.
President General Pervez Musharraf and President Ali Abdullah Saleh oversaw
the signing ceremony at Aiwan-e-Sadr at the conclusion of bilateral talks.
Information Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed and Yemeni Minister for International
Cooperation Abdul-Karim al-Arhabi signed the agreement for cooperation in the field of media.
Minister for Education, Sports and Culture Javed Ashraf and Yemeni Minister for International Cooperation Abdul-Karim al-Arhabi inked the protocol on cooperation in the field of sports and youth between the two countries.
Minister for Tourism Syiad G G Jamal and Yemeni Minister for International
Cooperation signed the agreement on cooperation in the field of tourism.
A memorandum of understanding was signed between Pakistan Standards Quality
Control and Yemen Authority for Specification, Standardization and Quality Control by Minister for Science and Technology Ch Nauraiz Shakoor and Yemeni Minister of Trade Khaled Rajeh Sheikh.
Another MoU between Export Promotion Bureaus of the two countries was inked by Chairman of Export Promotion Bureau Tariq Ikram and Yemeni Secretary General of Export Supreme Council.
Yemen is among the top ten rice-importing countries from Pakistan. Other major export items from Pakistan include medicines, garments, fabrics footwear, woven cotton fabrics, electrical fans, electrical equipment
etc.
NS/NS
SABA