ISLAMABAD, Sept 14: Pakistan Muslim League (Quaid-i-Azam) chief and parliamentary leader in the National Assembly Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain has said Pakistan has old and good friendly relations with France which will become stronger with the passage of time.

He said this at a luncheon hosted by him and the Punjab Chief Minister Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi for Aneesuddin Ahmad, ambassador-designate to France, here on Sunday.

A large number of federal and provincial ministers, ambassadors, members of the national and provincial assemblies, senators and high-ranking officials attended the function.

Mr Hussain expressed the hope that Mr Aneesuddin would further promote friendship and cooperation between the two countries.

He said France had always fulfilled traditional friendship with Pakistan and its cooperation in the manufacturing of submarine — Agosta — was a golden example of its friendship with Pakistan.

The chief minister said a large number of Pakistanis lived in France and their hard work had proved that they were a great asset of France.

Mr Anees said he would make all-out efforts to bring the two countries closer.