ISLAMABAD, June 20: Pakistan and Kuwait on Tuesday agreed to consolidate their relations, especially in the areas of trade, investment and manpower export. The agreement was reached in a meeting between Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz and the visiting Amir of Kuwait Shaikh Sabah Al Ahmed Al Sabah and their delegations here.

Prime Minister Aziz said the memorandums of understanding signed by the two countries under which Kuwaiti companies planned to invest $1.2 billion in Pakistan would strengthen cooperation in the fields of energy, trade, transportation and tourism.

The Amir reciprocated the prime minister’s desire of expanding ties and cooperation, saying that the bond between the two countries could help achieve the vision of building a better future for their people.

Sheikh Sabah appreciated the role being played by Pakistanis in the development of his country. He said more Pakistani workers would be welcomed to benefit from their skills and expertise.

Mr Aziz said Pakistan did not have aggressive designs against any other county but it was committed to having minimum credible deterrence to ensure peace in the region.

“The need of the hour is to bridge the growing divide between Islam and the West to ensure peace and prosperity for future generations,” he maintained. He said the Organisation of Islamic Conference needed to be restructured and transformed into a vibrant organisation to deal with the issues facing the Ummah.

He said Pakistan remained committed to the composite dialogue process with India.

He stressed the need for resolving the core issue of Kashmir for durable peace in the region.

He said Pakistan attached great importance to a secure and stable Middle East, which was possible only if the Palestine problem was solved.

: According to a joint statement issued at the end of the Amir’s two-day visit, the two countries vowed to expand economic ties, agreed to explore new avenues of cooperation with a focus on increasing investments and mutual trade, APP adds.

It said the two sides agreed to take steps to actively promote investment cooperation in all sectors.

It said that during talks between Shaikh Sabah and President Pervez Musharraf, the two sides identified petroleum, petrochemical, fertilisers, energy, civil aviation and infrastructure sectors for cooperation and agreed to encourage private and public sector participation.

The two sides decided to hold a meeting of the joint ministerial commission for economic and commercial cooperation by end of 2006.

Pakistan and Kuwait denounced terrorism in all its forms and manifestations and vowed to strengthen cooperation to combat terrorism both at bilateral level and within the multilateral system of the United Nations.

The Kuwait side outlined its perspectives on its national development process against the backdrop of the current robust economic activity in the region. Pakistan expressed its readiness to engage in the activities.

Pakistan appreciated the role of Kuwait in ensuring steady flow of oil supplies and noted that a stable global oil market was critical for world economic growth.

The two sides agreed to cooperate in the oil and gas sectors.

They pledged to continue their development and humanitarian assistance to Palestine.

They reiterated their support for the establishment of a sovereign, independent, united and viable state of Palestine within a reasonable time through negotiated settlement.

They stated that while Iran had the right to develop nuclear energy for peaceful purposes, it should be done in consonance with its international obligations. They underlined that the resolution of the issue should be through consultations and confrontation should be avoided at all costs. They expressed hope that Iran would positively and carefully consider the European offer.

The Amir of Kuwait supported the initiative of confidence building between Pakistan and India.

The Amir invited President Musharraf to visit Kuwait and the president accepted the invitation.