ISLAMABAD, July 26: President Gen Pervez Musharraf on Saturday emphasized the need for enhancing bilateral trade and economic cooperation with Bangladesh.

Talking to Bangladesh Foreign Secretary Shamsher Mobin Chowdhury, who called on him here, the president underlined the need for closer cooperation in the education, health and information technology sectors.

He expressed satisfaction over the level of cooperation between Pakistan and Bangladesh.

He said the free trade agreement signed between the two countries would give impetus to their bilateral commercial relations.

He expressed the hope that the eighth meeting of the Joint Economic Commission in Dhaka and the Joint Business Council would enhance the private sectors’ cooperation.

President Musharraf called for more people-to-people contacts and expressed the hope that the two sides would take the necessary measures for the implementation of the agreements pertaining to regular political consultations, cultural exchanges and joint business councils.

The Bangladesh foreign secretary said Prime Minister Khalida Zia was looking forward to her visit to Pakistan for the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation’s summit in January 2004.

The visiting foreign secretary also paid a courtesy call on Prime Minister Mir Zafarullah Khan Jamali.

The prime mister appreciated the regular bilateral consultations between the two countries and expressed the hope that their scope would be extended to all levels.

He said he was looking forward to the visit of Prime Minister Zia.

He emphasized the need for strengthening the economic relations between the countries.