Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz has said that Pakistan is supportive of giving observer status to Philippines in the Organisation of Islamic Conference (OIC) as it seeks greater engagement with the Asean countries as it will be beneficial to both sides.
The Prime Minister expressed these views while meeting Gloria Arroyo, President of Philippines, on the sidelines of Boao forum for Asia meeting here on Saturday. He said that greater interaction with Asean countries will augur well for both sides.
Pakistan, the Prime Minister said, is already getting investment from Asean countries in line with its "look-east vision." Both the leaders during the meeting agreed to forge closer economic links with special focus on enhancing trade and investment between the two countries, besides sharing the best practices in the field of education, culture, science and technology.
On the occasion, the Prime Minister apprised the Philippines President about the regional situation. Both the leaders expressed satisfaction on excellent arrangements made by the host country for Boao Forum.
The Philippines President briefed the Prime Minister about the role of Asean countries in various fields and said that Asean countries are undergoing greater economic integration and eventually will become a single market. Premier Shaukat Aziz said that Pakistan is supportive of giving Philippines, observer status in the OIC and would welcome its entry into the fold.
The Prime Minister extended an invitation to the Philippines president to visit Pakistan, which she accepted. The Philippine President said she has special affinity for Pakistan as her father paid the first state visit to Pakistan.
Earlier, Shaukat met with the former President of Philippines Fidel V. Ramos and congratulated him for being Chairman of BFA for the next three years. The Prime Minister said that Asian countries need to move from being producers of low cost goods to value added economies to get greater share in the global economy.
During the meeting, both sides agreed on entire production change and said that most Asian countries are still deprived of the current economic dividend. The Prime Minister expressed desire for holding sector level meeting of BFA in Islamabad in various fields including, Science and Technology, energy, IT, etc.
Chairman Microsoft Corporation Bill Gates called on Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz on the sidelines of Boao Forum for Asia here. Talking to him, Shaukat said Pakistan wants to establish a strong and long-term relationship with the Microsoft to promote IT culture and IT literacy in the country.
He said Pakistan is planning to set up Research and Development centres in IT and will invite experts from Microsoft and wants to establish strategic relationship with Microsoft to develop its IT infrastructure. Pakistan, he said, is a late starter in the field of IT, with virtually no IT seven years back, which has now grown to worth $2 billion.
"It is fast growing, at the rate of fifty percent per annum," the Prime Minister said. He pointed out that Pakistan's connectivity has expanded tremendously following availability of three under-sea cables. Shaukat Aziz said that the government is focusing on promotion of IT education in the country by improving the infrastructure.
He said that Pakistan wants to position itself as a regional hub for outsourcing and software development and is introducing the IT education to the youth at school level. Efforts are being made to provide IT access easily to the youth so that they could play their due rule even at the world level, he added.
"It is the age of Information and Microsoft which has tremendously promoted computer and IT technology. Therefore we want Microsoft to have more involvement in Pakistan," the Prime Minister said. He said that Pakistan would enhance its contacts with the Microsoft for the promotion of IT education among the youth.
Chairman Microsoft Bill Gates assured that for the promotion of IT, his company will provide technical expertise for establishment of R&D centres in Pakistan. The Governor of Hainan Province Luo Baoming also called on the Prime Minister and discussed matters of mutual interest.
The Prime Minister said that the Boao Forum has attained world fame in a short period of time because it effectively represented the voice of Asia. Shaukat Aziz pointed out that Pakistan wants to share the experience of China with regard to rapid economic development for its own social and economic uplift. He said that peace and prosperity are the shared objectives of Pakistan and China for the mutual benefit of their peoples and for the region.
The Prime Minister thanked the Governor for excellent arrangements made for the holding of Boao Forum. The Governor said that this is the second visit of Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz to the Boao Forum that shows the importance that Pakistan attaches to it.
He informed the Prime Minister that the Hainan province has two international airports that are helping promotion of tourism in the area. The Prime Minister said that Pakistan likes to benefit from the Chinese experience for the promotion of tourism in the country.