TUNIS, July 14: President Gen Pervez Musharraf and his Tunisian counterpart Zine El Abidine Ben Ali on Monday agreed to increase economic cooperation to match the excellent bilateral ties existing between the two countries.

During the one-hour talks at the Carthage Palace, the two presidents observed that the present level of trade between Pakistan and Tunisia was far below the desired level.

The two sides noted that apart from the government-to-government level, the private sectors of the two countries could play a major role in boosting two-way trade.

The two leaders also exchanged views on the regional and international issues including Pakistan-India relations, Middle East, Iraq and Afghanistan.

President Musharraf informed his Tunisian counterpart about Pakistan’s willingness to have a dialogue with India on all the outstanding issues including the core issue of Kashmir.

The Tunisian President praised the efforts for peace in South Asia and underlined the need for resolving the issues through peaceful means.

On the economic side, President Musharraf told his counterpart about the efforts made during the last three years to strengthen Pakistan’s economy.

He stated that the economy, which was in dire straits about three years ago was now on the path of stability and growth.

Earlier, on his arrival on a three-day official visit to Tunisia, President Musharraf hoped that his visit would help translate friendship between the two countries into a multi-faceted cooperation in different areas.

He also appreciated the leadership of President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali, Tunisia has made an important contribution for promoting peace and cooperation not only among the Maghreb countries but also in the Arab world and the OIC.

He said with its rich human resources, Tunisia has emerged as a dynamic and progressive country, as a commercial hub in the Mediterranean region.

“I am very pleased to come to Tunisia as our two countries have enjoyed close fraternal relations for nearly half a century,” he said upon his arrival on a three-day official visit to this north African country.

President Musharraf expressed his desire to translate this friendship and goodwill into multi-faceted relations and cooperation in a host of areas with special focus on economy and technical exchanges.

“In Pakistan, we appreciate that, under the sagacious leadership of President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali, Tunisia has made an important contribution for promoting peace and cooperation not only among the Maghreb countries but also in the Arab world and the OIC,” said the president.

With her fine human resources, he said, Tunisia had emerged as a dynamic and progressive country, as a commercial hub and a cultural pole in the Mediterranean region.

President Musharraf said he was looking forward to an in-depth exchange of views with President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali, on a number of subjects which were important in the bilateral as well as international context.

“I am convinced that my visit to your beautiful country would be most rewarding and greatly strengthen Pakistan-Tunisia relations,” he added.

Earlier, the president was accorded a warm welcome when he arrived here on the first leg of his weeklong visit to the three North African states.

He was received at the Carthage International airport by State Minister and Adviser to the President, Abdelaziz Ben Dhia, Minister for Women Affairs Madame Neziha Ben Yedder, Governor of Tunis Mahmoud Mahri and Abbas Mohsen, Mayor of Tunis. First Lady Begum Sehba Musharraf, Foreign Minister Khurshid Mahmud Kasuri, and Chairman Export Promotion Bureau Tariq Ikram are accompanying the president on the visit which will also take him to Algeria and Morocco.—AFP/APP/dpa