Pakistan, Sri Lanka agree to enhance cooperation

Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani (R) speaks with Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa during a signing of a memorandum of understanding (MOU) at the Prime Minister House in Islamabad on February 11, 2012. PHOTO: AFP

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani and Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa on Saturday decided to further enhance and promote bilateral cooperation between the two countries in trade, defence, technical education and other sectors.

Gilani and Rajapaksa, who is in Pakistan on a three-day visit, held talks at the Prime Minister House in Islamabad. Their one-on-one meeting was follow by delegation level talks.

In his remarks, Gilani emphasised on the need for exploring the true potential of trade between the two countries. He said that the commonality of views on different international and regional issues was the hallmark of the bilateral relationship between the two countries.

The Sri Lankan president said that his country was looking forward to the expansion of trade and economic ties with Pakistan.

Three MoUs signed

The two countries also signed three Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) at the Prime Minister House today.

The first MoU was for cooperation in media and was signed by Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan on behalf of Pakistan and Minister for External Affairs Prof. GL Peiris on behalf of Sri Lanka.

The second MoU was signed for the credit of $200 million for improving Pakistan’s exports to Sri Lanka, and the third was signed for enhancing cooperation in technical training in different fields.