Pakistan and Thailand have agreed to further consolidate and expand partnership and enhance cooperation in regional and multilateral framework as well as exploring new avenues for boasting mutual cooperation.
These remarks were made by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and his Thai counterpart Yingluck Shinawatra, during a press briefing following their talks in Islamabad on Tuesday.
Nawaz said that Pakistan wanted to upgrade its relationship with Thailand in all areas of cooperation.
Terming the talks successful, he mentioned that during their talks Pakistan and Thailand had comprehensive discussion on a wide-range of issues and there was convergence of views on important bilateral and international issues.
The talks, Nawaz said, covered significant areas, including collaboration in the fields of trade‚ culture‚ infrastructure development‚ science and technology‚ defence‚ education and tourism. Regional as well as international issues of mutual interests also came under discussion.
Nawaz said, “We are satisfied with the progress made in recent years in critical areas of economic and defence,” adding that both sides discussed ways and means to build a strong economic partnership. The two sides noted that the bilateral trade crossed $1 billion in 2011 and have agreed to double it over the next five years.
Nawaz said they have invited Thai businessmen to invest in Pakistan in various sectors, including infrastructure development‚ energy‚ water and power‚ food processing‚ packaging‚ gems and jewellery, tourism and hospitality.
“Both sides have agreed to establish joint trade committee and Joint Business council. The inaugural session of the joint trade committee is being held tomorrow to identify areas of further collaboration,” he added.
The PM said greater connectivity is very important in order to facilitate trade and investment. “To this end‚ we believe that Pakistan and Thailand may utilise their diverse geo-strategic location and promote people to people contacts. He thanked Thailand for its constant support to Pakistan for Enhanced Partnership with ASEAN.”
Addressing the occasion, Shinawatra endorsed the statement of Nawaz and said Pakistan was one of the oldest friends of Thailand in the region and their diplomatic relations span over six decades.
The Thai premier said that both countries wanted to conclude free-trade agreement for mutual benefit.
Trade and Power generation can bring back Pakistan’s economy to a stable path, cooperation in all areas with Thailand is not only beneficial to the economies of all the countries in fact it will bring regional stability as well. Education is another sector which will benefit even the social development in both countries.
Pakistan has always enjoyed vibrant cooperation with Thailand. This latest development will increase the role of Pakistan is South East Asia region. Being a member of ASEAN, Pakistan should demonstrate its effective role in the region. On the other hand India is making inroads in South East Asia to form a block against China. Pakistan should counter this strategic move of India by aggressive diplomacy and socio-economic cooperation.
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