Ahmadinejad lauds China for joining IPI gasline project: PTA, JIC to enhance Pak-Iran trade to $1 billion

President Pervez Musharraf and Iranian President Ahmadinejad agreed that Preferential Trade Agreement (PTA) and Joint Investment Company (JIC) will be utilised to their full potential to meet $1 billion trade target, and to further enhance mutual economic ties.
President Ahmadinejad lauded joining by China of the Iran-Pakistan-India (IPI) gas pipeline project for which agreement would be signed soon. Both leaders termed it 'Friendship Pipeline'. The Iranian President also offered assistance in providing more electricity to overcome Pakistan's power crisis and to curtail load-shedding.
Both Presidents were of the view that peace and security in Afghanistan was not only important for Pakistan and Iran but for the stability of the entire region. They said that Trilateral Pakistan-Afghanistan-Iran Foreign Ministers' talks would be very helpful in creating an enabling environment to counter terrorism effectively.
Dr Mahmoud Ahmadinejad made a stop-over in Islamabad. During his stay, he had very useful meetings with President Pervez Musharraf and Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani. The Prime Minister also hosted a lunch for the Iranian President.
In discussion on Middle East the two sides believed that situation in Iraq could be resolved through talks among the stakeholders. Iran supported Pak-India composite dialogue and hoped that it would settle all issues between the two countries.
In the meeting with the Prime Minister, he condoled for the assassination of Benazir Bhutto. The Prime Minister thanked him and the people of Iran for their support and sympathy during this national tragedy. The Prime Minister emphasised the need for increasing economic, trade, and commercial links to the benefits of both countries.
President Ahmadinejad invited President Musharraf and Prime Minister Gilani respectively to visit Iran. Both, the President and the Prime Minister, thankfully accepted the invitation and said that the dates for their visits would be decided through diplomatic channels.
This was President Ahmadinejad's first visit and, after a hiatus of 6 years, by a President of Iran to Pakistan. Also, President Ahmadinejad was the first head of a foreign state to visit Pakistan after the formation of the new government.