Commander Royal Brunei Armed Forces, Major General Haji Aminuddin Ihsan bin Pehin Orang Kaya Saiful Mulok Dato Seri Paduka Haji Abidin, called on President Asif Ali Zardari at Aiwan-e-Sadr on Tuesday. Major General Haji Aminuddin Ihsan was accompanied with Pehin Colonel Abdul Jalil Ahmed (Retd), High Commissioner, Lieutenant Colonel Abidin Bin Timbang and Captain (U) Zulkhairin Bin Ibrahim.
Minister for Interior A. Rehman Malik, Minister for Defence Chaudhry Ahmed Mukhtar, Secretary General M. Salman Farooqui and other senior officials from Pak side also attended the meeting. Pak-Brunei bilateral relations including mutual trade and bilateral co-operation between the two countries were discussed during the meeting.
The President highlighted the existing warm relations between the two countries that are characterised by unanimity of views on regional and international issues, thanking the Brunei government for their generous assistance during the recent devastating floods.
He said that the current level of bilateral trade has the potential to expand for which Pak-Brunei Joint Investment Company provides a good mechanism. The President hoped that the proposed Free Trade Agreement between the two countries would be concluded soon. The President said that the business and investment environment in Pakistan was conducive and offers investment opportunities in various sectors such as energy, construction, textiles, telecom, finance and agriculture.
The President also noted with satisfaction the positive contributions being made by the Pakistani community in Brunei and said that additional requirement of manpower could also be considered by the country. Appreciating existing co-operation in the area of defence, the President expressed the hope that this would be further deepened with the passage of time.
The President also said that Pakistan seeks closer ties with ASEAN countries and Asia Pacific Region. He appreciated Brunei for its support and hoped that it would continue to back the country's efforts to attain Full Dialogue Partnership with ASEAN Major General Haji Aminuddin Ihsan thanked the President for meeting and expressed the hope that the bilateral co-operation and relations would gain further strength with each passing day.-PR