Pak, Thai PMs agree to bolster trade partnership
Pakistan, Thailand sign MoU on exemption of visa for diplomatic staff.
ISLAMABAD (Agencies) - The Premiers of Pakistan and Thailand have agreed to further consolidate and expand their partnership in different fields and enhance cooperation in regional and multilateral framework.
This was stated by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and her Thai counterpart Yingluck Shinawatra at a joint press stakes out following their talks in Islamabad on Tuesday.
Nawaz Sharif said Pakistan desires to comprehensively upgrade its relationship with Thailand in all areas of cooperation. This is a critical component of Pakistan s vision East Asia that complements Thailand s Look-West Policy.
He said during their talks the two countries had comprehensive discussion on a wide range of issues and there was convergence of views on important bilateral and international issues.
PM Nawaz Sharif said their talks covered significant areas including collaboration in the fields of trade‚ culture‚ infrastructure development‚ science and technology‚ defence‚ education and tourism. Regional as well as international issues of mutual interests also came under discussion.
Mian Nawaz Sharif said we are satisfied with the progress made in recent years in critical areas of economic and defence. The two sides discussed ways and means to building a strong economic partnership. The two sides noted that the bilateral trade crossed one billion dollars in 2011 and have agreed to double it over the next five years.
The Prime Minister said Pakistan has invited Thai businessmen to invest in Pakistan in various sectors including infrastructure development‚ energy‚ water and power‚ food processing‚ packaging‚ jems and jewellery as well as tourism and hospitality.
Pakistan and Thailand on Tuesday signed one agreement and two Memorandum of Understandings (MoU) for increasing cooperation in economic and diplomatic fields.
The agreement pertained to exemption of visa for diplomatic staff of the two countries while the MoUs related to establishment of Joint Business Council and Joint Trade Company.
The signing ceremony was witnessed by the Prime Ministers of Pakistan and Thailand.
