‘Ties with Brazil to be strengthened’: Cooperation in energy sector
By Qudssia Akhlaque
ISLAMABAD, Sept 11: Pakistan and Brazil have resolved to expand and strengthen bilateral cooperation in all areas, including the political, economic and defence sectors. The foreign ministers of the two states, who met here over the weekend, reaffirmed their countries’ mutual desire to give impetus to promoting greater interaction and cooperation in the political, commercial, economic and defence fields, said a Foreign Office statement issued on Sunday.
It said both the sides identified the energy sector as a new area for possible collaboration and agreed that it had promising prospects.
Foreign Minister Khurshid Kasuri, during his meeting with his Brazilian counterpart Celso Amorim, emphasized the need to build cooperation in diverse areas, notably in the fields of energy, oil and gas and biotechnology.
He said Pakistan was looking forward to initiating negotiations for a preferential trade agreement with the South American trade bloc Mercosur and pointed out that it would open up opportunities to enhance trade and investment flows with Latin America, particularly Brazil.
The Brazilian minister said his government was also keen to broaden and deepen cooperation with Pakistan. He said there were promising prospects for promoting cooperation in the areas of economy, energy and trade.
Mr Kasuri underlined the importance of regular consultations between the two foreign ministries, as envisaged in a Memorandum of Understanding signed during President Pervez Musharraf’s visit to Brazil in November 2004.
The two sides decided that the next round of consultations between the two ministries would be held in Brasilia.
Mr Kasuri said bilateral relations were strengthening and high-level exchanges were picking up.
He expressed appreciation for the traditionally close cooperation between the two countries in multilateral forums. He said that the close interaction between Pakistan and Brazil during the World Trade Organization talks was reflective of the common approach of the two countries on South-South cooperation, development, global disarmament, fight against terrorism and other international issues of common interest.
He reiterated Pakistan’s support for Brazilian President Lula da Silva’s initiative for eradication of hunger and poverty from the globe as was envisaged in the Millennium Development Goals.
Mr Kasuri briefed the Brazilian minister on the Pakistan-India peace process and the situation in Afghanistan.
The Brazilian minister expressed appreciation for Pakistan’s important role in countering terrorism and extremism. He lauded Pakistan’s role in promoting peace and stability in the region.
He expressed appreciation for the initiatives taken by Pakistan to resolve outstanding issues with India, including the Kashmir dispute, through the dialogue process.
He commended Pakistan’s contribution to the stabilization and reconstruction efforts of the international community in Afghanistan.
MEETS PM: Mr Amorim also called on Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz and delivered to him a letter from President da Silva.
The prime minister expressed satisfaction over the excellent bilateral relations between the two countries, especially in the economic and commercial fields.
He observed that there was enormous scope for expanding bilateral cooperation and expressed the hope that both the countries would be able to develop collaboration in mutually beneficial areas.
He thanked Brazil for the support it extended to Pakistan’s proposal for a preferential trade agreement with Mercosur.
