Daily Times

ISLAMABAD: National Assembly Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq discussed matters of forging deeper relationship with Azerbaijan, Egypt 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 with the Ambassador of Azerbaijan Ali Alizada, he remarked that Pakistan’s quest for regional outreach to the Central Asian 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 Pakistan’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 the brotherly countries.

Alizada appreciated Pakistan’s gesture of friendship with Azerbaijan and the political leadership of Azerbaijan is committed to strengthen its ties with Pakistan. He also reciprocated Azerbaijan’s commitment to an enduring, comprehensive, diversified and warm relations with Pakistan 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 Pakistan 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 Pakistan 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 Pakistan with their parliamentary delegation.

Shaheen acknowledged Pakistan’s endeavors for promoting unity among the Muslim nations and expressed his hope that Pakistan 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 Pakistan-Sri Lanka relations based on mutual interest and aspirations for a peaceful South Asian region. The speaker highlighted that Pakistan can strongly count on friendly relations with Sri Lanka in its quest to promote peace in the region and strengthen cooperation within SAARC. He reiterated Pakistan’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 Pakistan and will continue to partner with Pakistan in diversification of trade and economic relations. He remarked that Sri Lanka shares Pakistan’s concern for equitable growth and sustainable development in South Asian region.