ISLAMABAD: National Assembly Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq discussed matters of forging deeper relationship with Azerbaijan, Egy
pt and Sri Lanka in separate meetings with their envoys on Thursday.
He called for diversification of trade and economic relations to assign substantive meanings to bilateral cooperation.
Speaking to Ambassador of Azerbaijan Ali Alizada, he remarked that P
akistan’s quest for regional outreach to Central A
sian Republic attaches paramount importance to vitality of its relations with Azerbaijan. He added that both the countries have extended unflinching support to each other at various international forums on the issues of Kashmir and Nagorno Karabakh respectively.
Reiterating P
akistan’s commitment to enhance bilateral relations, Ayaz underlined the need for diversification of trade, economic and parliamentary relations to assign substantive meanings to bilateral collaboration. He said that both the countries have commonalities of views and perceptions on various regional and international issues. The speaker stressed the need for enhancing cooperation between the
legislatures of brotherly countries.
Alizada appreciated P
akistan’s gesture of friendship with Azerbaijan and the political leadership of Azerbaijan is committed to strengthen its ties with P
akistan. He also reciprocated Azerbaijan’s commitment to an enduring, comprehensive, diversified and warm relations with P
akistan manifested in trade and economic dividends for both nations. The envoy also called for instilling new vitality in inter-parliamentary relations.
Separately, in a meeting with Ambassador of Egypt Sherif Shaheen, the speaker said P
akistan and Egypt cherish warm bilateral relations deeply rooted in religious, cultural affinities and aspirations to play a role to address divisions within the Muslim world. He informed the dignitary that P
akistan seeks to play a larger role to prevent Muslim world’s descent into factions, violence, instability and underdevelopment. Ayaz underlined the need for comprehensive engagement between the two countries in areas of reforms in education, strengthening democratic institutions and promoting genuine human development. The Speaker also invited his Egyptian counterpart to visit P
akistan with their parliamentary delegation.
Shaheen acknowledged P
akistan’s endeavours for promoting unity among the Muslim nations and expressed his hope that P
akistan and Egypt will continue to partner for a stable, peaceful and progressive Muslim world. He endorsed Ayaz’s proposal for collaboration to promote sustainable patterns of governance and assist each other in institutional building for effective governance.
Later, talking to High Commissioner of Sri Lanka, Ayaz appreciated P
akistan-Sri Lanka relations based on mutual interest and aspirations for a peaceful South Asian region. The speaker highlighted that P
akistan highly count on friendly relations with Sri Lanka in its quest to promote peace in the region and strengthen cooperation within the SAARC. He reiterated P
akistan’s commitment to facilitate people-to-people contacts and enhance parliamentary engagement with Sri Lanka.
Sri Lankan High Commissioner Jayanath Lokuketagodage said Sri Lanka attaches great value to its relations with P
akistan and will continue to partner with P
akistan in diversification of trade and economic relations. He remarked that Sri Lanka shares P
akistan’s concern for equitable growth and sustainable development in South Asian region.