Pakistan, Yemen likely to sign MoUs on tourism, education

Pakistan and Yemen will discuss enhanced co-ordination in fighting terrorism, boost co-operation in higher education, tourism and media, during the visit of Yemen President Ali Abdallah Salih to Pakistan.
Yemen's ambassador to Pakistan Abdul-Elah Hajar addressing a press conference here on Thursday said the two sides were expected to sign bilateral agreements on expanding tourism, higher education and media co-operation during the visit, beginning from April 10.
It will be the first visit by a Yemenese head of the state to Pakistan since 1978. President Saleh arrives in Islamabad on April 10, on a two-day visit. He said the visit would enhance existing co-operation in all fields between the two brotherly countries that already enjoy historical and cultural ties.
The visit of Yemen's president will be a follow up of President General Pervez Musharraf's visit to the country last year, where he signed memorandum of understandings on oil and gas co-operation and tourism.
On co-operation in the field of terrorism, the Yemenese Ambassador said the security agencies of the two countries were co-operating with each other and mentioned the visit of Interior Minister Aftab Sherpao last year.
He said the balance of trade of 50 million dollars was in Pakistan's favour and there was a wide scope of further expanding it. About the restructuring of Organisation of Islamic Conference (OIC) he said the meeting of OIC FM's in Sana discussed the matter.
In this regard, he said, Yemen agreed with vision of President Musharraf that the organisation be enabled to face the challenges of Islamic Ummah.
He said the two countries would also enhance co-operation in the field of higher education and 190 of its students were studying in Pakistani educational institutions, while 450 had so far graduated.
President Ali Abdallah Salih will hold talks with President General Pervez Musharraf on bilateral issues, co-operation against terrorism and peace in the region.
Co-operation in political area, economic, cultural and commercial fields and measures to increase trade will also figure during the talks.
President Musharraf had invited his Yemeni counterpart to visit Pakistan during his visit to Yemen last year. The two countries had inked four MoUs in oil, technical education, vocational training, security, aviation and transportation during the president's visit.