Pakistan,Saudi Arabia Agree To Deepen Economic Ties
ISLAMABAD – President Asif Ali Zardari saying this on Thursday revealed great interest towards turning the Pakistan Saudi relations into a strategic and economic partnership for the long run. In his case he reiterated that if such an improved cooperation is achieved then the two friendly countries would be further benefitted in various ways.
During a recent meeting with KSA and accompanied by the Saudi Minister for Investment, Khalid bin Abdulaziz Al-Falih, President Zardari emphasized over the strong bond of mutual trust and cooperation between Pakistan and KSA. He pointed out that these relations especially boosted over decades, and actually are not only political and economical but also cultural and respect bonds.
President Zardari said that Pakistan holds immense respect for King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques and Pakistan will always be in support of KSA. He conveyed deep appreciation for the Kingdom’s continued support any time that Pakistan faced some challenge, and emphasized the importance of, and need further to develop this strategic partnership.
Using the occasion to look at Saudi leadership:
President Zardari express his admiration saying that Mohammad bin Salman Al Saud, Crown Prince & PM of KSA is a visionary leader. He has expressed appreciation to the numerous achievements that Saudi Arabia has registered under the Crown Prince’s Vision 2030 program, which focuses on the diversification of the Saudi economy other than oil. The President also stressed that Vision 2030 is not only advantageous for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, but gives opportunities to engage in cooperation and partnership with other countries. He also pin pointed his gratitude for the on going supports to Saudi Arabia especially during the recent testing times of Pakistan as he emphasized on the need of such a bilateral relations.
In response:
Saudi Minister Khalid bin Abdulaziz Al-Falih noted that Pakistan’s key geographic advantages and unlimited potential for the extraction of organic resources. He noted that exact nature and scale of the bargain is known to Saudi Arabia and that it understands Pakistan’s untapped potential in terms of business not only in renewable energy but also in the mining sector, which has bright future for investment. The minister of trade and investment Al-Falih said that the kingdom of Saudi Arabia has planned to invest heavily in the infrastructure and mining sector in Pakistan as a part of the increasing bilateral relation in terms of economic cooperation. The minister also stated that the Saudi delegation planned to ink twenty-five deals in different spheres, thereby which will be a new level in the relations of the two countries mainly in the sphere of economies.
Fawad Al-Falih hopeful that these new deals will mark a new dawn of bilateral trade between KSA and Pakistan. He emphasized on reciprocal economic cooperation as he said that both countries will need each other for business relations and investment opportunities in the energy sector, infrastructure as well as imports and exports will be beneficial for both the countries.
In addition to the business cooperation:
The equal attention was paid to the development of strategic partnership in major spheres including agriculture and informational technologies. Opportunities for these collaborations would not only bolster the bilateral relations between the two countries – Pakistan and Saudi Arabia – but also provide new horizons in meaningful growth and development of sectors deemed relevant to the future roadmap of both the countries. The two countries; by importing foodstuff from Pakistan can complement the ever increasing food requirements of the Saudi market while information technology cooperation may lead to development of enhanced digital platforms for the two nations.
This latest diplomats meeting of both country’s top officials shows a long-term hustle of moving towards a progressive economy stronger Pakistani & Saudi relations. The treaties and collaborations that have been considered during the meeting show the willingness of the two nations to cooperate in economic development as well as in achieving stability of the whole region.
In prospect:
The talks and negotiations represent further progress into the development of the bilateral relations to improve economic cooperation, technologies, and infrastructures. The interest shown by both Pakistan and Saudi Arabia assures promising future of ties that are likely to serve the long-term best interest of both nations. This meeting stands as witness to that friendship between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia, as the two indeed march on the path of further entrenchment of the cordial relations, and with a vision of shared prosperity and development.