COLOMBO, Sri Lanka: Pakistan and Sri Lanka on Tuesday signed eight agreements related to enhancing bilateral cooperation in the fields of defense, security, anti-terrorism, trade and science and technology.
The signing ceremony was held at the President’s Secretariat in Colombo where Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and the Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena were also present.
In his address on the occasion, the prime minister said that there are vast opportunities for bilateral trade and quantum of trade will be taken to $1 billion annually.
The prime minister said that Pakistan is cooperating with Sri Lanka in the defense sector and the two countries will work together to choke financial assistance to terrorists.
Sharif said that the two countries intend to strengthen bilateral relations as they have unanimity of views on the international and regional issues.
Nawaz Sharif said that his visit is reflective of close relationship between the two countries. He said that Pakistan is ready to give Sri Lanka the most favoured nation (MFN) status in trade.
Earlier, Pakistan and Sri Lanka held delegation level talks at the Presidential Palace in Colombo and discussed ways and means to enhance bilateral relations in diverse fields.
The Pakistani delegation was led by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif is leading the Pakistan delegation while Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena headed the Sri Lankan side.
The Pakistani delegation included Commerce Minister Khurram Dastgir Khan, Minister of Defense Production Rana Tanveer Hussain, Special Assistant to Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs Tariq Fatemi and Advisor on National Security Nasir Khan Janjua.
Sharif and Maithripala Sirisena also held a one-on-one meeting in Colombo during which both the leaders focused on further consolidating Pak-Sri Lanka ties for the mutual benefit of both the countries. They emphasized on enhancing cooperation in bilateral trade, defence production and tourism.
