Indonesia lauds Pak economic growth
By Asad cheema

ISLAMABAD—Indonesian President, Dr. H. Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, has underlined the need for strengthening bilateral and people-to-people contact between Pakistan and Indonesia with a view to building long term friendship and promoting understanding. This was stated by the Indonesian President while talking to Chairman Senate, Mr. Mohammedmian Soomro who called on him here.
The Indonesian President expressed the view that promotion of economic and bilateral cooperation and taking steps for removing the trade imbalance would greatly help in achieving the desired objectives. The Indonesian President lauded Pakistan's firm stand in the war against terror and said that we should work together for promoting moderation and try to remove misperceptions about Islam. He said that his visit to Pakistan was aimed at meeting the brotherly people of Pakistan and to express sympathies with the earthquake affectees. The Indonesian President appreciated Pakistan's economic policies and said that he was gratified to learn that the economy of Pakistan was growing steadfastly.
Chairman Senate, Mr. Mohammedmian Soomro welcoming the Indonesian Head of State expressed the view that the main challenge confronting the two countries was to improve and promote economic cooperation as economic inter-action sustains for a very long time. He said that Pakistan and Indonesia should focus on bolstering ties in various fields like trade, tourism and exchange of students. He pointed out that Pakistan and Indonesia have a long history of close ties and it was a very happy augury that these relations blossomed with the passage of time.
Referring to Pakistan's role in the fight against international terrorism, Chairman Senate stated that the President had advocated the idea of enlightened moderation in the OIC Summit and that this idea needs to be promoted. He said Islam, like all other religions stood for tolerance but unfortunately it is being misunderstood in some quarters. This perception, the Senate Chairman opined, must be removed. Later, Senator Mushahid Hussain Sayed, Chairman Senate Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs presented a couple of reports of the Committee to the Indonesian President. Indonesian Foreign Minister, MPs and Minister-in-waiting Mr. Wasi Zafar were also present during the meeting.