Pakistan, Canada agree to reinforce broad-based relationship

Islamabad, Apr 3 (UNI) Pakistan and Canada have agreed to further reinforce a broad-based relationship in diverse fields.

A decision to the effect was taken at the first round of Pakistan-Canada bilateral consultations held here yesterday.

The respective delegations were led by additional secretary Shahid Kamal and Director-General in the Canadian Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade Randolph Mank.

''The Consultations covered bilateral relations, regional and international issues of common interest,'' a foreign ministry statement said here today.

The decision to institute regular Bilateral Consultations between the foreign ministries of the two countries was taken during the visit of Canadian Foreign Minister Peter MacKay to Pakistan in January this year.

It reflected the shared desire of both countries to broaden and deepen bilateral cooperation and consult each other on important regional and international issues.

''The two sides discussed ways and means to expand bilateral cooperation in diverse areas,'' said the statement.

The talks also focused on strengthening bilateral economic relations, including proposals to enhance trade and investment links and energy cooperation between the two countries.

Measures to deepen cooperation in the fields of security, education, science, technology and culture were also discussed.

Both sides underscored the importance they attached to building a broad-based relationship marked by multifaceted cooperation in different fields.

Efforts to promote global nuclear non-proliferation and disarmament issues and counter-terrorism capacity-building also figured at the talks, the statement added.

UNI