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PR. No. 284/2009

Date: 24/07/2009   

PAKISTAN AND MALAYSIAN FOREIGN MINISTERS MEET ON THE MARGINS OF ARF MINISTERIAL MEETING IN THAILAND

Foreign Minister Makhdoom Shah Mahmood Qureshi met the Malaysian Foreign Minister Datuk Anifah Hj. Aman on the margins of the 16 th ARF Ministerial Meeting in Phuket , Thailand .

It was noted by the two Foreign Ministers that Pakistan and Malaysia enjoy close friendship which has translated into viable economic partnership between the two countries, after the signing of Free Trade Agreement. However, both sides need to broaden economic cooperation to include joint ventures in mutually identified fields. The Foreign Minister mentioned agriculture, IT, livestock, construction, infrastructure development as possible areas for investment from Malaysia . Trade had also grown in the last few years but there was a need to address the trade imbalance. Both sides agreed to explore collaboration in the Halal Food Industry and to set up a joint working group for this purpose.

Malaysia and Pakistan also agreed on early convening of the Joint Commission. Foreign Minister of Malaysia mentioned that Malaysia intends to host D-8 Ministerial meeting in Kuala Lumpur and invited Pakistan to attend. Both the Foreign Ministers will also meet in New York on the margins of UNGA.

Foreign Minister Qureshi highlighted Pakistan 's Vision East Asia Policy and its desire to strengthen cooperation with the ASEAN community.

Islamabad

24 July 2009