ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) on Tuesday reiterated their resolve to build a strong partnership and further promote economic cooperation for the mutual benefit of the two brotherly countries.
This was discussed during a meeting between President Asif Ali Zardari and Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud, who called on him at Aiwan-e-Sadr, the President Secretariat’s Press Wing said in a press release.
Welcoming the delegation, the president said that Pakistan and KSA enjoyed a long-standing and decades-old relationship and Pakistan wanted to transform the existing ties into a long-term strategic and economic partnership, the official news agency reported.
The two sides discussed the regional dynamics and recent developments in the Middle East and called for an immediate and unconditional ceasefire and end to the Israeli atrocities in Gaza.
Both sides also exchanged views on issues of bilateral importance and the challenges being faced by the Muslim Ummah.
The Saudi foreign minister was accompanied by a high-powered delegation, comprising the minister of water and agriculture, the minister of industry and mineral resources, the assistant minister of investment, the head of the Saudi Special Committee and senior officials from the Ministry of Energy and Saudi Public Investment Fund.
Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, Minister for Foreign Affairs Ishaq Dar, Minister for Privatisation and Board of Investment Abdul Aleem Khan, Minister for Petroleum and Water Resources Musadik Masood Malik, Minister for Industries and Production Rana Tanveer Hussain, Foreign Secretary Syrus Sajjad Qazi and senior government officials also attended the meeting.
President Zardari also highlighted that the government and the people of Pakistan had the highest regard for the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and would continue to stand with KSA.
He said that the prosperity of the Islamic world was linked to the progress of Saudi Arabia.
The president lauded the courageous and visionary leadership of KSA’s Crown Prince and Prime Minister Muhammad Bin Salman and the remarkable progress being made under the Vision 2030.
He also thanked the leadership of Saudi Arabia for its support to Pakistan in difficult times.
Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal said that KSA considered its relations with Pakistan very critical and was committed to building a strong partnership with Pakistan. He highlighted that both countries enjoyed strong bonds and had helped each other for decades.
He appreciated the contributions of the Pakistani diaspora in the development of KSA.
He also conveyed the greetings of Saudi leadership and underlined the importance of Pakistan for the Kingdom.
President Zardari also conveyed best wishes to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud.
Meanwhile, Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud also called on Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday.
The two sides reiterated their commitment to strengthening the bilateral relations focused on mutually beneficial economic cooperation.
Led by the foreign minister, the high-powered Saudi delegation arrived on Monday on a two-day visit, essentially to expedite follow-up on the understanding reached between Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman during their recent meeting in Makkah to enhance bilateral economic cooperation.
Recalling his warm and productive meeting with the Saudi crown prince, the prime minister said that the Saudi delegation’s visit after his trip was a manifestation of the strong commitment of both countries to the strengthening of bilateral relations focused on mutually beneficial economic cooperation, according to a PM Office press release.
In this regard, he said that both sides needed to work closely to expedite the first phase of Saudi investments in Pakistan under the new arrangement.
During the meeting, the prime minister expressed his deep appreciation for the Saudi leadership and conveyed his sincerest wishes to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
Prime Minister Shehbaz underscored the significance accorded by Pakistan to its longstanding fraternal, economic and strategic relations with Saudi Arabia and said that both countries had always stood together at all times.
He informed the delegation about the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC) and its initiatives to promote investment in Pakistan. He also highlighted the key role of Chief of Army Staff General Syed Asim Munir and the cooperation of all institutions for the promotion of investment in the country through SIFC.
The Saudi foreign minister expressed gratitude for the warm welcome accorded to his delegation and highlighted that Saudi Arabia attached high importance to its strong and close ties with Pakistan.
He also conveyed the Kingdom’s commitment to an enhanced strategic and economic partnership with Pakistan. The escalating situation in the occupied Palestinian Territories was also discussed.
