Sri Lanka, Pakistan look to deepen and broaden bilateral relations

Friday, 27 September 2013 04:56 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

New York: Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa met Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Wednesday on the sidelines of the 68th Session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York. The discussion between President Rajapaksa and Prime Minister Sharif centered on different ways Sri Lanka and Pakistan could further strengthen bilateral relations, particularly in the area of economic cooperation. The two leaders acknowledged that the long-term friendship between the two countries has resulted in the solidarity that Sri Lanka and Pakistan share.

The Pakistani Prime Minister said that he looks forward to his participation in the Commonwealth Heads of Governments meeting (CHOGM) to be held in Sri Lanka in November 2013. President Rajapaksa thanked Pakistan for its support to Sri Lanka in its fight against terrorism and at international fora. He invited Pakistani investors to invest in Sri Lanka especially in the sugar industry. The two leaders agreed to continue to work together to deepen and broaden bilateral relations through regular contacts and exchange of visits and by increasing trade and investment interactions. The Pakistani delegation included several high-level officials, including the Adviser to the Prime Minister on national security and foreign affairs Sartaj Aziz, Minister of Finance Ishaq Dar and the Permanent Representative of Pakistan to the United Nations Masood Khan. Ministers Prof. G.L. Peiris, Nimal Siripala de Silva, and Dullas Alahapperuma, and Permanent Representative of Sri Lanka to the United Nations Dr. Palitha Kohona and Additional Secretary to the Ministry of External Affairs Mrs. Kshenuka Seneviratne were also present at the meeting.