Pak, Sri Lanka agree to boost trade, defence ties

Islamabad, Feb 16: Pakistan and Sri Lanka today agreed to further reinforce cooperation in commerce, trade, tourism and defence.

This was announced by the Pakistan Foreign Minister Khursheed Mehmood Kasuri and his Sri Lankan counterpart Rohitha Bogollagama at a joint press conference after their talks here.

Mr Bogollagama accompanied by his foreign secretary arrived here yesterday on a three-day official visit to Pakistan.

Mr Kasuri said they discussed bilateral, regional and international issues and shared aspirations for promotion of peace, stability, economic development and social progress in the region.

The foreign minister said he reaffirmed Pakistan's commitment for the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Sri Lanka.

He said the two countries also agreed to make efforts to utilise the bilateral free trade agreement, giving boost to bilateral trade and economic progress.

''We have decided to increase people-to-people contact through greater collaboration in the tourism sector with a focus on religious tourism,'' he said , adding that Pakistan will also explore ways to offer collaboration to Sri Lanka in Railways.

Mr Kasuri said his Sri Lankan counterpart briefed him on the Sri Lanka-LTTE peace process.

''The two sides expressed their resolve to combat extremism and terrorism for the preservation of shared values and principles and in the interest of global peace and progress of humanity,'' he added.

Speaking on the occasion, the Sri Lankan Foreign Minister said his country appreciated Pakistan 's support in meeting its needs.

He said the private sector of the two countries should make efforts to realise the potential of Free Trade Agreement.

He said Sri Lanka would be willing to extend assistance to Pakistan in gem mining.

On South Asia Free Trade Agreement (SAFTA), Mr Kasuri said Commerce Ministers of the SAARC countries would meet in Katmandu, shortly, to deliberate on trade-related issues.

He said SAFTA must be looked at in totality with a view to increasing trade with more liberal trade regime.

''Pakistan wants a liberal trade regime in South Asia,'' he said, stating that it is under that spirit that a group formed by Islamabad and New Delhi was looking into difficulties that Pakistani exporters experience in exporting goods to India .

He, however, pointed out that there has been an increase in trade between Pakistan and India to the tune of about four hundred percent in recent years.

UNI