News
|
||||
Rajapaksa
visit strengthens Lanka-Pakistan relations A Colombo Foreign Ministry statement said that during President Rajapaksa’s meetings with President Pervez Musharraf and Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz, Pakistan reaffirmed its support for the territorial integrity of Sri Lanka and the ongoing peace process while the leaders of both countries agreed to combat terrorism in all its forms. The two countries also decided to have an agreement on Customs co-operation by the end of 2006 and initiate negotiations for trade in services for the implementation of the Sri Lanka-Pakistan Free Trade Agreement, the statement said. They also agreed to discuss modalities for direct private sector cooperation and identify sectors with high investment potential. Pakistan also welcomed Sri Lanka’s proposal to set up a dedicated GSP Plus Investment zone.The two countries emphasised the need for greater collaboration in the tourism sector and entered into an MoU to double the tourist traffic between the countries by the year 2010, the statement said. It also said the importance of enhancing the air connectivity to utilize full benefits of the FTA and tourism was recognised by both countries. It was also agreed that authorities of the two countries would discuss the liberalisation of air services and the resumption of regular feeder shipping services between Karachi and Colombo. President Rajapaksa also met the chairman of Senate, the Senior Minister of Defence and the Minister of Foreign Affairs. Both President Musharraf and Prime Minister Aziz accepted invitations extended by President Rajapaksa to visit Sri Lanka, the Foreign Ministry statement said. |
||||
Copyright © 2001 Wijeya Newspapers
Ltd. All rights reserved. |
