Pakistan and France on Tuesday agreed to setting up of a Joint Economic Commission (JEC) for closer co-operation in food, agriculture, economic development and large scale training of nurses for export to the European Union and Middle East. The decision was taken during a meeting between President Asif Ali Zardari and French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner who called on him here, prior to his departure for London.
The two sides agreed to hold the first meeting of the commission having four members from each side, in October in Islamabad, while subsequent meetings would be held alternatively at both the capitals. France also assured to expedite the payments it had pledged under the Friends of Democratic Pakistan (FoDP) on priority, to help the country meet the situation arising out of floods and the large scale devastation.
The President, who was on a three-day visit to France, met his counterpart Nicholas Sarkozy on Monday, with both sides vowing to further expand and strengthen their bilateral ties in all spheres. Spokesperson to the President Farhatullah Babar told media after the meeting that President Zardari stressed the importance of deeper bilateral ties between the two countries.
He also apprised the French Foreign Minister of the death and destruction caused by the floods, particularly in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and the need for international assistance to help Pakistan cope with the natural calamity. The President in this regard stressed the importance of realisation of the pledges made by the FoDP as the country has come under immense economic pressure, first due to its role in the war against terror and then because of the heavy rains and floods that have killed over 1400 people and rendered millions homeless.
Foreign Minister Kouchner also expressed his "extreme shock" over the floods which hit north-west Pakistan and expressed France's solidarity to the Pakistani people and assured all help on behalf of the European Union for humanitarian efforts.
President Zardari said there was also a need for closer collaboration in health and education sectors, besides greater interaction amongst the two private sectors for increasing the bilateral trade quantum from the existing US 1.1 billion dollars. Minister for Defence Chaudhry Ahmed Mukhtar, Foreign Secretary Salman Bashir, Secretary to President Malik Asif Hayat, Ambassador Shafkat Saeed and senior officers were present during the meeting.-PR