ISLAMABAD: Pakistan expressed the hope that the historic relationship between the Pakistan and United States (US) would continue to strengthen into a broad-based partnership, in the coming days.

Talking to the newly arrived Ambassador-designate of the US to Pakistan, Mr David Hale, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs (SAPM), Syed Tariq Fatemi emphasised that a close and enduring partnership between Pakistan and the US was a strategic imperative, especially as the two countries had converging views on a wide range of regional and international issues.

According to an official statement released by foreign office, the Special Assistant welcomed Ambassador Hale to Pakistan and wished him success in his new assignment.

Mr. Fatemi recalled the visit of the Prime Minister to the US in October 2015, and highlighted that it had helped reinforce the strong bilateral cooperation between the two sides in numerous areas, including defence, security, energy, trade, economy, education, and people-to-people contacts.

Ambassador Hale expressed confidence that Pakistan-US relations would continue to follow a positive trajectory in the coming days and stressed that he looked forward to working closely with the Government of Pakistan to this end.

Other issues of regional and international importance also came under discussion during the meeting.

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