President Asif Ali Zardari and President Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed al Nahyan of the United Arab Emirates on Monday expressed their resolve to upgrade and further strengthen their existing bilateral ties, particularly in trade and economic fields for the mutual benefit of two brotherly countries.
President Zardari who arrived here in the UAE capital on a two-day official visit on Monday, held wide-ranging talks with the UAE President, with focus on establishing a comprehensive strategic and economic partnership between the two countries.
The two leaders held in-depth discussion that covered bilateral ties and the regional and international issues of mutual interest. They expressed satisfaction over the existing co-operation between Pakistan and the UAE in various fields and pledged to further strengthen their mutual ties particularly in trade and investment.
During the one-on-one and bilateral talks, the two sides agreed on the need to expand, strengthen and take their bilateral cooperation in diverse fields to the level which commensurate their warm, deep-rooted and historic ties that dates back to the formation of UAE in 1971.
During the talks, President Zardari was assisted by Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi, Advisor on Finance Shaukat Tareen, Advisor on Interior Rehman Malik, the BOI Chairman and Ambassador at large Javed Malik.
The UAE President was assisted by members of his cabinet. In the delegation level talks, there was unanimity of views on various bilateral matters with focus on encouraging the UAE public and private investment in joint ventures in the fields of energy, agriculture, construction and infrastructure development.
President Zardari and the UAE President also discussed the peace and security situation in the region and stressed the need of joint efforts to improve the security situation, which is imperative for peace and development in the region as well as in the world.
President Zardari said there was a need of increased co-ordination among the international community for peace and security in the world. With the world having turned into a global village and impacted by the incidents in Afghanistan and Iraq, no one can remain indifferent from such a situation, he added. The UAE President showed his keen interest in the peace and security of the region, particularly in Pakistan and Afghanistan.
President Zardari mentioned the recent meeting of the Friends of Pakistan Forum in Dubai and appreciated the efforts and role of UAE in supporting Pakistan at the Forum, for the provision of financial assistance to the South Asian nation, which was facing the economic crisis.
The two leaders recalled the historic, brotherly and warm relations between Pakistan and UAE at the people to people and leadership level, which were founded by Shaheed Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto and late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan and were nurtured during the tenures twice elected Prime Minister of Pakistan Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto.
They expressed the confidence that now with Asif Ali Zardari becoming the President of Pakistan these warm relations will further strengthen. The two Presidents recalled the farewell meeting between Shaheed Benazir Bhutto and Sheikh Khalifa, when she left the UAE for Pakistan to launch a campaign for her party and participate in the general elections.
They also mentioned the joint photographs of the leaders of two families including Shaheed Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto and Shaheed Benazir Bhutto with the UAE leadership, which will continue to revive the past memories. President Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan also hosted a lunch in honour of Pakistan leader and his delegation.
Later in the evening the UAE President paid a courtesy call on President Zardari along with his cabinet members at the Emirates Palace. The two leaders remained together for quite some time, exchanged pleasantries and discussed matters of bilateral interest. Member of Pakistan delegation were also present in the meeting.
Terming President Zardari''s visit very successful, Advisor on Interior Rehman Malik said that the reception and hospitality exhibited by the UAE side as well as the UAE President''s rare gesture of receiving Pakistani leader at the airport and paying a courtesy call after the official talks shows the close and warm relationship between the two leaders.
During the course of discussion including on Pakistan''s growing energy needs, he said, President Zardari desired for early transportation of the 400 megawatt power plant to Pakistan, which the UAE had already offered. Earlier, on his arrival at Al-Mushef Palace, President Zardari was accorded a warm welcome. A smartly turned-out contingent of the UAE armed forces presented a guard of honour to the Pakistan leader. President Zardari inspected the guard of honour.
The national anthems of the two countries were also played on the occasion. Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan introduced the Pakistani leader with the UAE dignitaries. While President Zardari introduced the UAE President with Pakistani delegation.
President Asif Ali Zardari was also given a rousing red-carpet welcome when he arrived at Amiri Airport of Abu Dhabi. UAE President Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, in a rare gesture, along with his cabinet members received the Pakistani leader, who was paying his first official visit to the UAE after assuming the office of the President.
Later President Zardari and President Sheikh Khalifa drove to Al-Mushef Palace for official talks in the same car, which showed the love, affection and respect, which the UAE leadership has for Pakistani leadership.
Advisor to PM on Interior Rehman accompanied the President, while Foreign Minister Makhdoom Shah Mahmood Qureshi, Advisor on Finance Shaukat Tarin, Chairman BOI Salim Mandviwala and Ambassador at large Javed Malik joined him in Abd Dhabi.
During his two-day stay in Abu Dhabi the President will also hold meetings with the heads and chief executives of UAE based major companies to seek investment in various sectors particularly in energy, agriculture and infrastructure projects in Pakistan.