Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz on Wednesday said there was a great potential for stronger economic and trade ties between Pakistan and Iran and both the countries were committed to further strengthen these relations.
Talking to Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki at the PM House, he said owing to the vast opportunities available in Pakistan there was a good scope for Iranian investment and joint ventures.
"This would benefit both the countries and the peoples would gain from increased economic activity." Shaukat Aziz referred to the Iran-Pakistan-India gas pipeline project and described it as an excellent example of regional co-operation creating a win-win situation for all.
He said Pakistan''s high economic growth rate -- targeted to range between 6-8 percent in next five years -- has increased Pakistan''s energy needs and would lead to closer co-operation between the two countries.
The Prime Minister said the two countries were committed to strengthening their brotherly ties, which, he added, were based on political, historical, cultural and economic relations spanning centuries.
He said the two countries had a shared interest for peace and prosperity in the region.
The Prime Minister welcomed the recently appointed Iranian foreign minister to Pakistan and thanked the Iranian government and people for their "valuable" assistance for the earthquake-affected people and the pledge for reconstruction of the affected areas.
He said the Organisation of Islamic Conference (OIC) has a great potential but pointed that it has to be provided the resources to project Islam as a religion of peace, harmony and inter-faith understanding.
Shaukat Aziz also highlighted the need for re-activating the Economic Co-operation Organisation, which can provide closer links between Iran, Turkey, Pakistan, Afghanistan and the Central Asian States.
The discussions also covered international and regional issues of mutual interest including terrorism, security and nuclear matters, Afghanistan, Kashmir and Pakistan-India relations.
The Prime Minister said Pakistan strives for peace with all its neighbours and wants resolutions of all issues including the issue of Jammu and Kashmir with India.
He said Pakistan seeks the solution of the Kashmir issue in line with the wishes and aspirations of the Kashmiri people.
Mottaki said it was Iran''s duty to help the brotherly people of Pakistan. He also presented a cheque of $100,000 to the Prime Minister. He said the new Iranian government desires to develop relations with all neighbouring countries especially with Pakistan, which share a long history of friendship and co-operation.
Foreign Minister Khurshid Mehmood Kasuri and Minister for State for Foreign Affairs Khusro Bakhtiar were present during the meeting, besides Iranian Ambassador to Pakistan Muhammad Ebrahim Taherian Fard and senior government officials.
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