Pakistan, France agree to enhance trade, defence ties

[Lahore_Real_Estate]

* Zardari says Pakistan wants serious and substantive engagement in civil nuclear cooperation with France

PARIS: Pakistan and France on Monday moved closer to initiating a framework for strategic dialogue focusing on increased interaction in political, trade and economic areas besides upgrading their defence and security ties.

President Asif Ali Zardari and his French counterpart Nicolas Sarkozy, who met at Sarkozy’s official residence, agreed to a closer cooperation in jointly fighting terrorism.

Zardari also called for establishing a ministerial-level joint economic commission, aggressive support for preferential access to EU market and parliamentary exchanges to deepen the political understanding between the two countries.

After his meeting with President Sarkozy, Zardari told reporters that he had an “in-depth” discussion with the French president, covering all areas, including terrorism.

“President Sarkozy promised to visit Pakistan soon and we welcome him,” he said, adding that it would help in expansion of their multifaceted bilateral relationship.

The president said the two countries would form a team to work on an agenda for future high-level meetings.

Briefing the media about Zardari’s second visit to France, the president’s spokesman Farhatullah Babar quoted him as saying that Pakistan attached great importance to the ongoing defence cooperation, including the upgrading of Agosta class submarines, with France.

He stressed the need for further strengthening bilateral defence cooperation countries and said Pakistan was also keen on engaging in a serious and substantive engagement in civil nuclear cooperation with France.

The president said Pakistan attached great importance to its relations with France and stressed for comprehensive upgrade of bilateral ties with enhanced trade, investments, sustainable market access and deeper mutual cooperation in other areas that could prove beneficial for both the countries.