PR. No. 255/2009
Date: 29/06/2009
FOREIGN SECRETARY SALMAN BASHIR CALLS ON PRIME MINISTER MADHAV KUMAR NEPAL
During his on-going visit to Nepal , Foreign Secretary Salman Bashir called on Nepalese Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal today. Matters relating to Pakistan-Nepal bilateral relations, mutual cooperation in SAARC, and regional and international issues of common interest were discussed.
Foreign Secretary Salman Bashir handed over a letter from Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani addressed to Prime Minister Nepal, conveying best wishes from the leadership and people of Pakistan, reaffirming our commitment to further strengthen the long-standing ties of friendship and cooperation with Nepal, and extending a cordial invitation to him to visit Pakistan. The Foreign Secretary underscored Pakistan 's resolve to deepen bilateral cooperation with Nepal in all fields. He also apprised the Prime Minister of the efforts being made by Pakistan to realize its strategic objectives of security and economic development, promotion of peace and stability in the region, and advancement of trans-regional development cooperation.
The Prime Minister of Nepal underlined the importance of the long-standing Nepal-Pakistan relationship and conveyed his warm greetings for the Pakistani leadership. He underscored Nepal 's desire to further deepen bilateral cooperation in the trade, economic, agriculture, energy, environment, and cultural and tourism fields. In the context of enhanced political and people-to-people contacts between the two countries, the
importance of parliamentary exchanges and party-to-party relations was underscored. The two sides also underlined their commitment to continue to work closely in SAARC with a view to promoting common interests and the imperative of regional cooperation. The two sides would determine the dates of the Nepalese Prime Minister's visit to Pakistan at mutually convenient dates.
The Foreign Secretary is currently visiting Kathmandu for holding Bilateral Consultations with his Nepalese counterpart Mr. Gyan Chandra Acharya.
Islamabad
29 June 2009