Pak, Yemen identify fields to boost ties

ADEN (Yemen)—Unanimity of views marked wide-ranging discussions between Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz and President Ali Abdullah Saleh of Yemen here Monday. The discussions covered bilateral relations and regional and international issues.
Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz, who is on a three-day visit to Yemen, flew into Aden, an hour’s flight from the capital Sana’a, met President Saleh at the Presidential Palace. The two leaders agreed to strengthen cooperation between Yemen and Pakistan in political, diplomatic, economic, defence, security, education and social sectors.
They also identified new areas of cooperation including agriculture, pharmaceutical, textiles, banking and capital markets, where both the sides can share their experiences for their mutual benefit. They also agreed on increased two-way investments. The Prime Minister was accompanied by members of his entourage including Adviser Syed Sharifuddin Pirzada, Minister for Interior Aftab Sherpao, Minister for Defence Production Habibullah Warraich, Minister for Population Ch. Shahbaz Hussain, Minister of State for Information Tariq Azeem, Foreign Affairs Minister of State Khusro Bakhtiar, Religious Affairs Minister of State Aamir Liaquat Ali.
The two sides were of the view that greater interaction at the highest level will strengthen the bilateral ties. President Saleh and Prime Minister Aziz noted that the trade between the two countries was far below the potential and expressed resolve to further enhance it to a meaningful level.
Prime Minister Aziz extended Pakistan’s willingness to collaborate in oil and gas sector, either through the Oil and Gas Development Corporation (OGDC) or through the private sector. He also offered to double the number of
scholarships for Yemeni students for higher studies in Pakistan.
He said Pakistan would support Yemen’s entry to the fold of World Trade Organization. President Saleh appreciated Pakistan’s successful reform policy that has transformed every sphere of activity and said his country could benefit from Pakistan’s achievements in Capital markets and the banking sector.
The two leaders also discussed possibility of cooperation in the banking sectors of the two countries to facilitate the investors from both
side. In this regard they stressed the need for closer interaction between the private sectors.
President Saleh and Prime Minister Aziz also discussed early
convening of the Joint Ministerial Commission, where representatives of the private sectors can also express their views. Prime Minister Aziz greeted President Saleh on his recent election success and also extended greetings to him on behalf of President General Pervez Musharraf.
He said the two countries share a rich cultural heritage, history and faith and they need to further strengthen people-to-people ties through increased business activity.Prime Minister Aziz briefed the Yemeni President about Pakistan’s role in the region. He said Pakistan was a peaceful country and desired closer ties with all its neighbours.
He said a strong, stable Afghanistan was vital for Pakistan and the region. He informed the Yemeni leader about Pakistan’s role in the reconstruction effort in Afghanistan. Prime Minister Aziz also apprised President Saleh about the on going Composite Dialogue with India and said Pakistan desired a resolution of the core dispute of Kashmir peacefully and according to the aspirations of the people of Kashmir.—APP