Pakistan and the United States have reaffirmed their long-term strategic partnership based on shared interests in building stable and sustainable democracy and in promoting peace and security, stability, prosperity in South Asia and across the globe.
This has been stated in the joint statement issued after talks between President George W Bush and President Pervez Musharraf here on Saturday.
The two countries also committed themselves to working together with Afghanistan to make Pakistan and Afghanistan a land bridge linking the economic potential of South Asia and Central Asia.
The two countries also resolved to maintain their close counter-terrorism co-operation and to increase their efforts to reduce the threat of terrorism both regionally and internationally.
FOLLOWING IS THE TEXT OF THE JOINT STATEMENT: President Musharraf and President Bush have affirmed the long-term strategic partnership between their two countries. In 2004, the United States acknowledged its aspirations for closer bilateral ties with Pakistan by designating Pakistan as a Major Non-Nato Ally.
The Pakistan-US strategic partnership is based on the shared interests of Pakistan and the United States in building stable and sustainable democracy and in promoting peace and security, stability, prosperity and democracy in South Asia and across the globe.
The two leaders are determined to strengthen the foundation for a strong, stable and enduring relationship. This will require a significant expansion of Pakistan-US bilateral economic ties, including mutual trade and investment. As a key step in this direction, Pakistan and the United State are making meaningful progress toward concluding a Bilateral Investment Treaty.
Both leaders commit to working together with Afghanistan to make Pakistan and Afghanistan a land bridge linking the economic potential of South Asia and Central Asia.
The American people feel profound sympathy for the victims of the tragic earthquake that struck on October 8, 2005. President Bush reaffirmed the United States' determination to stand by the Pakistani people as they recover and rebuild.
President Musharraf and President Bush reaffirm their condemnation of terrorism in all its forms and manifestations. Following the September 11 attacks, Pakistan and the United States joined international efforts to fight the scourge of terrorism. President Bush is grateful for President Musharraf's strong and vital support in the war on terror.
The two leaders underscored the need for a comprehensive strategy for addressing the threat of terrorism and extremism. President Musharraf and President Bush will continue to work together to address political injustice, poverty, corruption, ignorance, and hopelessness.
They resolve to maintain their close counter -terrorism co-operation and to increase their efforts to reduce the threat of terrorism regionally and internationally.
The two leaders recognise the need to promote tolerance, respect and mutual understanding, and interfaith harmony to strengthen appreciation of the values and norms common to the world's religions and cultures.
The two leaders acknowledge with appreciation the various international initiatives in this regard including President Musharraf's concept of Enlightened Moderation. The two leaders agreed that acts that disturb inter-faith harmony should be avoided.
President Musharraf and President Bush support the peace process and composite dialogue between Pakistan and India for improvement of relations and resolution of disputes and building a better future in South Asia.
Both leaders share concern about the threat to global stability posed by the proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD) and the threat of terrorist groups acquiring such weapons. President Musharraf and President Bush commit to play leading roles in international efforts to prevent the proliferation of WMD, their delivery systems and related technology and expertise.
STRATEGIC DIALOGUE President Musharraf and President Bush are launching a Strategic Dialogue under the Strategic Partnership. The Dialogue will be co-chaired by Pakistan's Foreign Secretary and the US Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs. They will meet regularly to review issues of mutual interest.
In implementation of the strategic partnership, President Musharraf and President Bush commit both countries to undertake the following steps in the areas of economic growth and prosperity, energy, peace and. security, social sector development, science and technology, democracy, and non-proliferation:
ECONOMIC GROWTH AND PROSPERITY Establish and implement strong financial sector controls that can defend against illicit finance.
Facilitate Pakistan's economic growth through increased trade and investment links with the United States and within the region and the global economy, including through an economic dialogue encompassing bilateral co-operation for Pakistan's economic development, regional economic co-operation, and the global economy.
The United States will provide financial support for the establishment of a Centre for Entrepreneurship in Pakistan under the Broader Middle East and North Africa (BMENA) initiative. The Centre will promote entrepreneurial training and skills development to young women and men to launch business initiatives that would generate employment opportunities.
ENERGY COOPERATION Hold a High-Level Energy Meeting to inaugurate an energy working group, which will explore ways to meet Pakistan's growing energy needs and strengthen its energy security. Work together to develop public and private collaboration on a broad range of energy sources.
PEACE AND SECURITY Build a robust defence relationship that advances shared and promotes regional stability, and contributes to international security.
Continue robust US security assistance to meet Pakistan's legitimate defence needs and bolster its capabilities in the war on terror.
Deepen bilateral collaboration in the fields of defence training, joint exercises, defence procurement, technology transfers, and international peacekeeping.
Decide to increase the frequency of defence policy discussions to strengthen collaboration in the identified sectors. Work together to ensure the maintenance of peace, security, and stability in the South Asia region and beyond. Cooperate closely international institutions, including bodies of the United Nations, on matters of mutual concern.
SOCIAL SECTOR DEVELOPMENT Continue US support in the health sector through collaborative projects and programs.
Reinforce Pakistan's efforts to reform and expand access to its public education through continuing US co-operation. Encourage educational programs and greater interaction and linkages between the research and academic institutions of the two countries.
Promote exchange of students and scholars, fellowship programs and strengthen research collaboration, including through institutional support for higher education and training.
Establish a wide ranging High Level Dialogue on Education to enhance and strengthen co-operation in the education sector.
SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY Build capacity in Pakistan and work towards increased co-operation in science, technology and engineering. Improve the quality, relevance, or capacity of education and research at Pakistan's institutions of higher education in the field of science and technology.
Establish Pakistan-US Joint Committee on Science and Technology to develop collaborative activities and relationships between the scientific and technological communities and institutions of both countries.
Enhance institutional capacity of Pakistan in the area of environment through exchange of experts and developing linkages and collaborative projects with relevant US institutions.
DEMOCRACY Support Pakistan as it develops strong and transparent democratic institutions and conducts free and fair elections to ensure sustainable democracy.
NON-PROLIFERATION Support Pakistan's non-proliferation efforts and strengthen its capabilities, by supporting Pakistan's measures for implementation of its new export control law, including adoption of enforcement regulations and establishment of a new export licensing body; and
Providing US assistance through the Department of Energy's Second Line of Defence Program (Megaports) and the Department of Homeland Security's Container Security Initiative.
PRESIDENTIAL VISIT President Bush thanked President Musharraf and the people of Pakistan for the generous reception and warm hospitality accorded to him, Mrs Laura Bush and members of the presidential delegation during their stay in Pakistan.
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