ISLAMABAD: President Mamnoon Hussain welcoming President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko at the Aiwan-i-Sadr on Thursday.—APP

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and Belarus vowed on Thursday to build a broad-based, substantive and long-term relationship in all fields, including trade, economic, education, defence and culture.

This was pledged as Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko started his two-day visit to Pakistan on Thursday. He met President Mamnoon Hussain and Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif.

President Hussain hosted a banquet in honour of his Belarusian counterpart. A formal welcome ceremony will be held at the Prime Minister House on Friday at which a number of bilateral agreements will be signed.

Meanwhile, Sergei Gurulev, Chairman State Military Industrial Committee, Belarus, called on Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee Gen Rashad Mahmood and discussed matters relating to professional interest and mutual cooperation between the two armed forces.

According to the ISPR, the two agreed that there was great scope for cooperation in the field of defence industry.

During his meeting with the Belarusian leader followed by delegation-level talks, President Hussain said Pakistan valued its ties with Belarus and both countries enjoyed a warm and a cordial relationship.

“Enhanced interactions between the two countries in recent past will further increase in the times ahead and opening of a Resident Mission of Belarus in Islamabad last November has greatly contributed towards enhancing bilateral ties,” the president’s spokesperson quoted him as saying.

Mr Hussain said the two countries had immense potential for economic and commercial relations, adding that the current trade volume did not reflect true potential and could be substantially enhanced. The Belarusian president said Pakistan was not responsible for spread of terrorism in the world and criticising Pakistan in this regard was a misperception. He said Belarus wanted to expand cooperation and partnership with Pakistan in all areas of mutual interest for cementing bilateral ties. He offered to provide assistance in procuring land and construction of Pakistani embassy in Belarus. He also extended an invitation to President Hussain to visit Belarus which the latter accepted.

Published in Dawn, May 29th, 2015

On a mobile phone? Get the Dawn Mobile App: Apple Store | Google Play