ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and Belarus have agreed to enhance cooperation in different fields including trade, economy, culture and agriculture.
The understanding came at talks between Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko in Islamabad on Friday.
The two sides also agreed to enhance inter parliamentary relations and strengthen people to people contacts in all spheres.
Later in a joint press stakeout, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif said Belarus is an important country and Pakistan attaches attach high importance to bilateral relations with it.
Describing his talks with the Belarus President as very productive, the Prime Minister said the two sides discussed relations in all fields including trade, industry, agriculture, investment, culture, education, and people to people to contacts. He said we have agreed to several new initiatives to bolster our bilateral relations.
Nawaz Sharif said we also discussed regional and international issues and agreed to work together for shared objective of peace and prosperity. The two countries agreed to continue cooperation at international organizations.He said Pakistanprovides excellent environment for foreign investment and the joint ventures between the two countries will help further strengthen the bilateral relations.
Earlier during the talks the Prime Minister extended condolences to the visiting president over the death of his mother a couple of days back.
Nawaz Sharif said Pakistan is keen to forge closer ties with Belarus in all fields including trade, economy, defense and culture.
He expressed the confidence that the visit will act as a catalyst in developing strong political and economic relations between the two countries.
Nawaz Sharif emphasized the need to further enhance frequency of bilateral visits.
Nawaz Sharif said current bilateral trade between the two countries standing at 60 million dollars is not commensurate with its potential and needs to be substantially increased.
He said the two countries need to establish close interaction between the respective chambers of commerce and industry as these will boost bilateral trade and investment.
Nawaz Sharif pointed out there is great scope for increasing economic relations in the fields of textile, agricultural equipment, heavy machinery, tyres, pharmaceuticals, dairy products and transport.
In his remarks, the President Alexander Lukashenko invited Pakistani businessmen and investors to visit Belarus to establish their businesses. He said the Pakistani investors will be extended all possible facilities. He said delegation of specialists from Pakistan should visit Belarus to see first hand the potential of areas of common interests.
He said his country is interested in joint ventures in different areas with Pakistani side for bringing the two countries closer together. He said Belarus seeks cooperation from Pakistan in the industrial and textile sector as Pakistan has the required raw textile raw material.
Inviting the Prime Minister to visit Belarus, the president of Belarus expressed the confidence that the visit will help exploit true potential of cooperation between the two countries.
Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif also hosted a luncheon in honor of the visiting BelarusPresident Alexander Lukashenko and his delegation.
Meanwhile Pakistan and Belarus signed a series of MoUs and agreements for cooperation in different areas.
These related to cooperation in science and technology, investment, agriculture, industries and defense production, education, media, culture and law and justice.
One of the MoUs envisages the establishment of consultation mechanism between the foreign ministries of the two countries. Another agreement envisaged the establishment of joint business council.
INP