HAVANA, Sept 16: President Gen Pervez Musharraf met leaders of various countries on the sidelines of the Non-Aligned Movement summit here on Friday and exchanged views with them on bilateral ties and matters of mutual interest.

Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapakse, President Hugo Chavez of Venezuela, Crown Prince of Qatar, Tameem Bin Hamad Al-Thani and Commonwealth Secretary-General Don McKinnon called on the president.

President Musharraf and President Rajapakse discussed ways and means for promoting bilateral ties with focus on economic cooperation.

Talking to reporters later, Foreign Minister Khurshid Kasuri said President Musharraf had assured his Sri Lankan counterpart of Pakistan’s full support to Colombo’s efforts for peace in that country.

President Chavez discussed with Gen Musharraf regional and global issues and ways and means to strengthen bilateral trade and economic ties.

Crown Prince Tameem expressed desire of the Qatri entrepreneurs to invest in Pakistan.

Gen Musharraf extended an invitation to the Amir of Qatar to visit Pakistan which was accepted.

Mr McKinnon appreciated steps taken by Islamabad for the empowerment of women.—APP