BEIJING: President Mamnoon Hussain has said that Pakistan values its ties with Bosnia and Herzegovina and would welcome joint ventures and investment in power generation, construction and textiles.

He expressed these views while talking to Bosnian President Dragan Covic here on Friday. The meeting was held on the sidelines of the commemorative events of China’s 70th anniversary of victory in World War II.

Mr Hussain appreciated cooperation between the two countries at international fora and emphasised the need for greater contacts at official and peoples’ level.

He underscored the need for strengthening exchanges between parliamentarians of the two countries.

He said trade volume with Bosnia had steadily increased from $289 million in 2009 to $500m in 2012, but pointed that it remained far below the potential.

He recalled the visit of then Bosnian President Bakir Izetbegovic in October 2012 that resulted in the signing of two memoranda of understanding in defence and commerce sectors.

President Hussain expressed the hope that education and cultural contacts between the two countries could help explore development of linkages between select institution in the field of arts, archaeology, fashion and music.

He said Pakistan would be glad to offer training to diplomats, civil servants and armed forces from Bosnia at the Foreign Service Academy, National School of Public Policy and National Defence University.

The Bosnia president said his country intended to strengthen ties with Pakistan and added that both countries could share their expertise in trade and culture.

Published in Dawn, September 5th, 2015

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