Pakistan seeks debt relief from Belgium

Islamabad, Nov 1 (UNI) Pakistan's Foreign Minister Khurshid Mehmud Kasuri today said Belgium was favourably considering debt swap of it 's official development assistance of about 60 million Euros against reconstruction in earthquake-affected areas in the country.

He said this at a joint press conference with his Belgian counterpart Karel De Gucht following their talks here this afternoon.

Belgian Foreign Minister said his country was also willing to waive state-to-state loans of five million Euros against an agreed project.

He expressed satisfaction over bilateral trade that has reached 500 million Euros and was confident that it has the potential to grow much further.

The two sides also discussed enhancing educational cooperation through Ph.D. programmes for Pakistani students at Belgian Universities.

Belgian side said they were reviewing an MoU proposed by the Higher Education Commission(HEC) of Pakistan for the purpose.

Belgium offered to organise a round table involving HEC and representatives of universities concerned and state governments to discuss modalities of the programme.

Foreign Minister Kasuri said the two countries had agreed to enhance cooperation in judicial assistance. Belgium will provide a draft for Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty to further upgrade relations in the field.

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