ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and Bosnia on Tuesday agreed to enhance their bilateral ties in different fields especially in defence, trade and investment with promoting exchange of visits at various levels between the two countries.

President Asif Ali Zardari and President of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bakir Izetbegovic, addressing a joint press conference following bilateral talks at the Presidency,  said both the countries agreed that there is great potential to be explored to enhance bilateral trade and cooperation in various fields including defence, energy and trade.

President Zardari said, “We agree that there is great goodwill in the hearts of the people of our two countries that will help in further increasing relations.” There is also a need to transform the goodwill ties into concrete cooperation, he added.

President Zardari said, “We appreciate the interest of Bosnian University of the Presidency to explore possibilities for cooperation in the educational field.”

He said both the presidents, discussed global issues of common concern including terrorism, extremism and narcotics.

“We agreed to continue our close cooperation in international fore on issues of mutual interest,” said Zardari.

Referring to cooperation in trade, the president said MoU has been singed between the Foreign Trade Agency of Bosnia and the Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industries.

He said, “We hope that Preferential Trade Agreement (PTA) being negotiated between the two countries would also be finalized soon. He said the second round in these negotiations is expected to be held later this month.”

The president reiterated Pakistan's commitment to the unity and territorial integrity of Bosnia and Hezegovina.

Meanwhile, two memorandum of understanding (MoUs) in defence and commerce fields were also signed to promote trade and economic activities between the two countries.

The MoU in defence collaboration was signed by Defence Minister Syed Naveed Qamar and Defence Minister of Bosnia and Herzegovina Muhamed Ibrahimovic while the MoU in commerce and business collaboration was signed by President Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI) Haji Fazal Kadir Khan Sherani and his Bosnian counterpart.

President Asif Ali Zardari and President of Bosnia and Herzegovina Bakir Izetbegovic also witnessed the signing ceremony.