President General Pervez Musharraf on Wednesday said exchange of parliamentarians and people-to-people contact would further strengthen bilateral relations between Pakistan and Iran. He was talking to Speaker of the Parliament (Majlis) of Iran, Dr Gholam Haddad Adel here, where they also discussed matters of common interest to the Ummah.
The Speaker of the Iranian Parliament, accompanied by a parliamentary delegation, during the courtesy call, appreciated President Pervez Musharraf's endeavours for bringing sectarian harmony among Muslims, and his vision for peace, progress and prosperity in the Islamic world. He also thanked Pakistan for extending support to Iran's bid to acquire observer status in Saarc.
Dr Gholam Haddad Adel conveyed greetings and good wishes of Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and President Ahmadinejad to President Pervez Musharraf.
Reciprocating the good wishes of the leadership of Iran, President Pervez Musharraf referred to religious and cultural affinities between Pakistan and Iran, and hoped that exchange of parliamentarians and people to people contacts would further strengthen the bilateral relations. The Speaker of the Iranian Parliament is visiting Pakistan on the invitation of the Chairman Senate of Pakistan.
Chairman Senate Mohammedmian Soomro and Senator Mushahid Hussain Sayed, Chairman, Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs were also present during the call.