ISLAMABAD, April 13: Pakistan and Mexico have decided to continue joint efforts for strengthening bilateral relations by broadening and deepening cooperation in diverse areas.

This resolve was reaffirmed when Maria De Lourdes Aranda Bezaury, Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs of Mexico, called on Foreign Minister Khurshid Kasuri here on Friday. The Mexican vice minister is here on an official visit for the Second Meeting of Pakistan-Mexico “Consultations Mechanism on Matters of Common Interest” that started on Thursday.

Ms Aranda Bezaury told Mr Kasuri that Mexico attached importance to deepening its ties with Pakistan in view of its international and regional significance as well as trade and economic potential, according to a statement issued by the Foreign Minister’s Office.

The foreign minister expressed satisfaction that relations between Pakistan and Mexico were growing steadily. He noted that following the landmark visit of President Gen Pervez Musharraf to Mexico in Dec 2004, the two countries had operationalised the institutional mechanisms and worked to develop cooperation in diverse fields, the statement said.

Mr Kasuri maintained that the vice foreign minister’s visit had contributed to strengthening of bilateral cooperation and deeper mutual understanding on issues of common interest.