Commonwealth huddle: PM accepts Colombo summit invitation

Sri Lankan foreign minister opens two-day trip, delivers invitations.

ISLAMABAD:

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif will attend the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) scheduled to take place in November this year in the Sri Lankan capital, Colombo.

The formal invitation to attend the biennial summit meeting of heads of states and governments from the former colonies of Britain was extended by Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Prof G L Peiris on Friday.

Sri Lanka’s top diplomat, who is on a two-day trip to Pakistan, held formal talks with Prime Minister’s Adviser on National Security and Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz, and called on both Prime Minister Nawaz and President Asif Ali Zardari.

According to the official statement issued by the foreign ministry, the purpose of Peiris’s visit was to hand over a letter from Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapakse, inviting Prime Minister Nawaz to attend the CHOGM to be held in November in Colombo.

A similar letter of invitation was also extended to Finance Minister Ishaq Dar to participate in the Commonwealth Business Forum, which would  be held on the sidelines of CHOGM, the statement added.



During his call on the Prime Minister, the Sri Lankan External Affairs Minister also conveyed on behalf of the Sri Lankan President, warm felicitations to Nawaz Sharif on his assumption of the office and the government and people of Pakistan on the recent general elections.

He updated the Prime Minister on the progress being made by his government to achieve post-war reconciliation as well as the rehabilitation of those affected by the war. He expressed Sri Lanka’s gratitude for Pakistan’s continuing support in the rehabilitation efforts through a number of programmes.

He was thankful to the government of Pakistan for its support and commitment to Sri Lanka at the UN Human Rights Council and UN Security Council.

The prime minister, while reciprocating the warm sentiments conveyed by the President of Sri Lanka, stated that he looked forward to attending the CHOGM in Colombo and interacting with the Sri Lankan leadership. He also expressed Pakistan’s strong support and desire to work closely with Sri Lanka on the platform of Commonwealth.

Nawaz said Pakistan deeply valued its relations with Sri Lanka which are characterised by cordiality and friendship. He stressed the importance of deepening and broadening these ties by further increasing trade as well as investments.

Noting that the present volume of trade between the two countries, despite the FTA of 2002, did not reflect the true potential, the premier said there was a need to focus on enhancing economic cooperation which would add to the progress and prosperity of both countries.

This, in turn would ensure regional security and stability, fundamental for fighting poverty and promoting economic growth and development.

“Therefore there is a need to renew efforts to realize the goal of achieving US $2 billion bilateral trade,” he said.

During the meeting between Sartaj Aziz and Peiris, both sides agreed to hold the next meeting of Joint Economic Commission in October this year in Colombo.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 24^th, 2013.