ISLAMABAD, July 20: Pakistan and Romania have agreed on early convening of a joint government commission to review their bilateral trade and economic relations.

This was decided in a meeting between Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Makhdum Khusro Bakhtyar and Romanian Foreign Minister Mihai Razwan Ungureanu in Bucharest on Wednesday, a Foreign Office statement said.

According to the statement the two sides also agreed to exchange ministerial visits to explore new avenues of economic cooperation. The two sides also exchanged views on regional issues and matters of global concern including peace, security and stability.

Mr Bakhtyar underlined the emerging opportunities in the oil, energy and IT sectors for mutually beneficial cooperation. He was informed that Romanian President Traian Basescu would pay a visit to Pakistan on mutually convenient dates next year. Before that the Romanian secretary of state for foreign affairs would visit Pakistan to continue the dialogue and to prepare grounds for the Presidential visit.

The minister of state also addressed Pakistani community at the Pakistan Embassy in Bucharest and informed them about various development projects and measures taken by the government to increase trading links with European countries. He appreciated expatriate community’s positive role in promoting Pakistan’s commercial and business interests abroad.—Q.A.