ISLAMABAD, Dec 1: President Gen Pervez Musharraf and Prime Minister Mir Zafarullah Jamali, in their separate meetings with the visiting Prime Minister of Nepal, Surya Bahadur Thapa, hoped on Monday that the 12th South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation summit in Islamabad would give an impetus to Saarc activities, and underlined the need for expanding bilateral ties.

The Nepalese premier arrived here in the morning on a two-day official visit. Mr Thapa’s visit is part of his tour to all Saarc member countries as the current chairman of the association.

Prime Minister Jamali in his meeting with his Nepalese counterpart expressed the hope that the Framework Agreement on Free Trade in South Asia and the Saarc Social Charter would be adopted at the forthcoming Islamabad summit.

Talks between the two leaders focused on bilateral and Saarc-related issues. “It was emphasised that Pakistan wished to give a new impetus to Saarc activities in the economic and social sectors,” said an official statement issued after the meeting.

Mr Jamali appreciated Nepal’s role as the Saarc chairman for successfully leading the regional organisation ahead. He also apprised the Nepalese prime minister about the arrangements being made for the 12th Saarc summit in Islamabad from Jan 4 to 6.

Mr Thapa lauded the recent peace initiatives taken by Pakistan for improving relations with India.

The two leaders emphasised the need to fortify and expand bilateral ties.

In this context, both agreed to make earnest efforts to build greater economic content in Pakistan-Nepal rela-tions. “Pakistan attaches particular importance to strengthening and expanding its bilateral relations with Nepal in all fields and especially to promote economic, defence and commercial cooperation for the mutual benefit of the two countries,” the statement said.

Earlier in the morning, the Nepalese premier held talks with President Musharraf.

Lauding Nepal’s role as the Saarc chairman, the president expressed the hope that the 12th Saarc summit would give a new momentum to the association.

He emphasised that the summit should take place on a regular basis as stipulated in the Saarc charter and should not be held hostage to the whims of any one country.

The president said it was the shared responsibility of all Saarc countries to promote economic cooperation while looking after the genuine concerns of the least developed countries in the region.

He wished success to the Nepalese government in its efforts to resolve the Maoist problem.

Earlier on arrival in the capital, the Nepalese prime minister, who is accompanied by a high-powered delegation, was received by Foreign Minister Khurshid Mehmood Kasuri and senior officials of the foreign ministry.

Prime Minister Thapa is due to leave on Tuesday morning.