Several bilateral agreements in the areas of health, science and technology, trade, money laundering and terrorism financing are to be signed.
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“We now look forward to welcoming President Sirisena to Pakistan at an early date so that relations of mutual trust and confidence can be further enhanced”, PM Nawaz said as he invited Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena to Pakistan.
The volume of trade between Sri Lanka and Pakistan has been estimated at about $325 million a year.
Sri Lanka’s intelligence recently handed over a confidential report to President Maithripala Sirisena and Wickremesinghe regarding the Sri Lankans leaving for Syria.
A MoU for cooperation between the Gem and Jewelry Research and Training Institute of Sri Lanka and the Pakistan Institute of Fashion and Design was also inked.
Nawaz Sharif reminded that Sri Lanka was the first country with which Pakistan entered into a free-trade agreement.
“We have agreed to hold frequent summit-level meetings, promote parliamentary exchanges and enhance the process of consultations, cooperation and coordination between our respective institutions”, he said.
He also termed President Maithripala’s visit to Pakistan in April past year as positive and encouraging, recalling that a number of agreements had been signed between the two countries then.
Pakistan’s economy grew 4.2 per cent in fiscal 2015, but investors remain wary of systemic weaknesses, the central bank said last month, urging the government to adopt clearer, more consistent policies on industry and trade.
Pakistan Prime Minister pledged to provide assistance in producing rice and sugar to ensure food security in Sri Lanka.
Besides, he said at the UN General Assembly forum, he floated a four-point feasible agenda for the restoration of peaceful relations between Pakistan and India. But he is also under worldwide pressure to do more to reconcile the ethnically divided nation.
“The two countries have agreed on the inclusion of Services and Investments chapters in the bilateral FTA”.
He said Pakistan has consistently been supporting an Afghan-led and Afghan-owned government and was ready for continued support for resumption of peace dialogue between the Afghan government and Taliban. Begum Kalsoom Nawaz Sharif and members of the Prime Minister’s entourage accompanied him.
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The president said he would also call for proposals for a new constitution to ensure the country did not slip back into war.
