Opening of Mexican embassy to promote bilateral ties: Bakhtiar
By Muhammad Ali Malik

ISLAMABAD—Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Khusro Bakhtiar Wednesday said opening of new embassy of Mexico in the federal capital will help to further improve and promote trade and economic relations between the two countries.
Addressing the opening ceremony of new embassy of Mexico here, the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs said, “Pakistan and Mexico have always enjoyed cordialrelations marked by mutual respect and commonality of views on important issues.”
He said that the opening of Mexican embassy in Islamabad will provide impetus to the efforts forpromoting stronger ties and cooperation in diverse fields and help in exchanging in trade, investment and agriculture sector.
Khusro Bakhtiar said both the countries have been working together to develop close and cooperative ties.
“Our mutual efforts for strengthening bilateral relations and broadening and deepening cooperation in diverse fields have seen steady momentum in recentyears,” he said.
Referring to President Musharraf’s visit to Mexicoin December 2004, he said, it led to the establishment of new institutional mechanism for promoting cooperation in various fields.
The Minister said these include “consultationsmechanism on matters of common interest” for regularexchange of views between the two countries and advancea “joint commission” for realizing the Ambassador of Mexico to Pakistan Luis Ortiz-
Monasterio speaking on the occasion said with the opening of the Mexican embassy, the two proud statesare consolidating their fertile and promising partnership.
He said, “The people of two countries arecommittee with freedom, prosperity and the respect fordifferent cultures.”
The Mexican ambassador said both the countries have been cooperating in different fields, and these are multifaceted. He said agriculture, trade and investment, culture and education, technology as wellas political dialogue are some of the areas in which both the countries are completely ready to reinforce their links.
He said Consulate of Mexico has been working inKarachi and very soon another Consulate will be opened in Lahore to further promote bilateral and trade relations.
The simple but impressive ceremony of opening ofnew Mexican embassy in Islamabad was attended by the ambassadors of Brazil, Cuba, Argentina and otherdiplomats from Latin American countries.