Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz on Sunday said Pakistan and Saudi Arabia are strategic partners and the visit of Prince Sultan Bin Abdul Aziz Al-Saud will further consolidate the unique relationship and bolster collaboration in all areas including economy, trade and investment, defence, security and education.
He was talking to the Saudi Crown Prince at the Prime Minister House.
The two leaders held a one on one meeting for thirty minutes and were later joined by members of Saudi and Pakistani delegations, comprising federal ministers and senior officials.
The two leaders discussed the avenues available for the expansion of bilateral ties. They also exchanged views on regional and global developments and issues concerning Ummah.
Shaukat Aziz said, "Pakistan and Saudi Arabia are bound in religious, emotional, historical and cultural ties."
The visit of Prince Sultan will impart further depth to the strategic relationship enjoyed by the two countries, he added.
The Prime Minister emphasised the need to promote interfaith, inter-civilisation dialogue to ensure better understanding between the Muslim World and the West.
Observing that Islam is a religion of peace, brotherhood and compassion and teaches moderation and tolerance, he said it is misunderstood in many parts of the world.
Shaukat Aziz said Muslims need to work harder to project Islam in its true perspective.
The Prime Minister said Muslims should forge more unity in their ranks. He said the Organisation of Islamic Conference should be strengthened to respond to the challenges faced by the Ummah.
Briefing the Crown Prince about the economic recovery achieved by Pakistan during the last six years, the Prime Minister said that the reform agenda of the government was broad-based and multifaceted.
Shaukat Aziz said the success of economic reforms, consistency of policies, an investment-friendly environment and transparency in policies and procedures have restored the confidence of investors, and investment today is all times high.
The Prime Minister said it is heartening to note the keen interest taken by Saudi investors in privatisation programme and more Saudi businessmen are looking for opportunities to invest in Pakistan.
He particularly mentioned investment by Al-Tuwairiqi Group to set up a steel mill in Karachi and Jamaih Holding's participation in the KESC sell-off.
Shaukat Aziz while talking of investment, opportunities, mentioned Pakistan's plans to set up a coastal oil refinery near Karachi and Gwadar as one of the potential areas for Saudi investment.
Briefing the Saudi Crown Prince about peace and stability in the region, the Prime Minister said Pakistan is a peace-loving country and is acting as an anchor of peace in the region.
He said, "It is pursuing a policy of peace with its neighbours" adding that only peace will bring progress and prosperity in the region.
He thanked Saudi Arabia for the interest shown by King Abdullah Bin Aziz for the resolution of Kashmir issue.
The Prime Minister said Pakistan is committed to the process of composite dialogue with India.
He said, "Sustainable peace will be possible only after the resolution of all outstanding issues between India and Pakistan including solution of the core issue of Kashmir, acceptable to Pakistan, India and the people of Kashmir.
Regarding Afghanistan, he said Pakistan desires to see peace, stability and prosperity in Afghanistan, which is also in the interest of Pakistan.
The Prime Minister expressed gratitude to the people and government of Saudi Arabia for their prompt and generous financial and medical support in the aftermath of October 8, earthquake.
Prince Sultan during the talks said Saudi Arabia considers Pakistan a very special friend and an important country of Muslim world.
He said the relationship is rare among the two nations and is based on firm basis of common faith and similarity of views on all important international issues.
He fully agreed with the Prime Minister on the need of promoting interfaith dialogue to create a better understanding of Islam in the world.
The Crown Prince appreciated the economic progress made by Pakistan and said Pakistan's policies have generated interest in Saudi investors and more companies are interested in starting joint ventures with Pakistani companies.
He invited Shaukat Aziz to visit Saudi Arabia to meet investors and said that they should take advantage of Pakistan's growing economy particularly by investing in real estate, IT & telecom, tourism, banking, agriculture and the services sector.
The Crown Prince said Saudi Arabia wants to see development and prosperity in Palestine.
Referring to the success of Hamas in elections, he said, the international community should respect the verdict given by Palestinians in favour of Hamas.
The two leaders also discussed the situation in Iraq and hoped for peace there. Exchanging views on Iran they hoped for a diplomatic solution of Iranian nuclear issue.
The meeting was attended among others by Senior Minister for Defence, Minister for Foreign Affairs, Minister for Interior, Minister for Labour & Manpower Minister for Defence Production, Pakistan's ambassador in Saudi Arabia, Saudi Ambassador in Pakistan, members of the Saudi delegation and senior officials.
Pakistan and Saudi Arabia while reaffirming their commitment to continue fight against terrorism termed it a threat to all faiths and societies and urged addressing the root-causes to achieve a lasting solution.
The unanimity of views was expressed by the Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz and the Saudi Crown Prince at a luncheon later hosted at the PM House.
The two leaders strongly condemned all forms of terrorism and extremism and vowed to continue their struggle against the menaces.
Moreover, according to a statement issued following the visit of the Crown Prince both the countries agreed on the need to foster better understanding and harmony among diverse faith through interfaith and inter-civilisation dialogue.
Prince Sultan Bin Abdul Aziz Al-Saud paid a two-day visit to Pakistan at the invitation extended by the Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz.
President General Pervez Musharraf and Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz conveyed the gratitude of the government and people of Pakistan for the generous relief assistance provided by the Kingdom to the earthquake victims. It included a continuous supply of relief goods and a financial pledge of $573 million for the reconstruction and rehabilitation operation.
Pakistani leadership held comprehensive and wide-ranging discussions with the Crown Prince.
At the official talks, views were exchanged between the two sides on a broad spectrum of bilateral as well as regional and international issues.
They agreed to further intensify their bilateral relations, specifically in the economic, commercial, investment and defence areas.
On the Middle East peace process, the two sides emphasised the need for the creation of an independent Palestinian state in accordance with the wishes of the Palestinians.
They expressed their concern and anguish over the deteriorating security situation in Iraq and the sufferings of the Iraqi people.
On Iran's nuclear issue, the two sides expressed the hope that the matter would be resolved through peaceful negotiations.
The Pakistan leadership briefed the Crown Prince on the process of confidence building between Pakistan and India.
They underlined Pakistan government's resolve to settle all outstanding disputes between the two countries including the long-standing issue of Jammu and Kashmir through peaceful means.
It was also explained to Prince Sultan that a secure and stable Afghanistan on Pakistan's western borders was of its vital interest.
The two sides expressed the hope that the visit of the Crown Prince would further strengthen the brotherly relations between the two countries.
Later, Prince Sultan Bin Abdul Aziz Al-Saud left here for Saudi Arabia in the evening.
He was given a warm send-off at Islamabad International Airport and was seen off by Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz. Defence Minister Rao Sikandar Iqbal, services chiefs and other senior officials were also present on the occasion.