ISLAMABAD, Aug 19: Pakistan attaches top priority to relations with Bangladesh both in bilateral context and in the framework of regional cooperation, President General Pervez Musharraf said on Friday.

He was talking to visiting Bangladesh Foreign Secretary Hemayatuddin who made a courtesy call on him.

The President emphasized the need to augment economic, trade, cultural, educational and defence ties between the two countries.

He told the Bangladesh foreign secretary that Pakistan was looking forward to attend Dhaka Saarc summit in November.

He offered Pakistan’s full cooperation in steering the Saarc process forward which was rejuvenated at the Islamabad Summit in 2004.

The Bangladesh foreign secretary conveyed to the president greetings and best wishes of the president and the prime minister of Bangladesh. He renewed the invitation for Pakistan’s participation in the 13th Saarc Summit at Dhaka.

Hemayatuddin is visiting Pakistan for the third round of Pakistan-Bangladesh annual foreign secretary-level bilateral consultations.—APP