PERTH, Oct 28: Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani on Friday called upon the Commonwealth to seek inspiration from the “resilience” of the Pakistani nation for fighting challenges in a rapidly changing world.

Addressing the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting here, he said: “Building a resilient Commonwealth is necessary if we are to get to grips with numerous challenges we are facing as individual states, as well as collectively, on the global plane.”

The theme of Mr Gilani’s address was: “Building national resilience, building global resilience”.

The prime minister said a spate of calamities across the world had shown that challenges had become local and global at the same time. “It is, therefore, essential to evolve and put in place appropriate, well-integrated mechanisms at local, national and international levels. Without this, our efforts may not yield much.”

Mr Gilani said calamity after calamity had failed to demoralise Pakistanis, holding out the nation’s courage and resolve as a template for the international community to follow. He recalled as examples the earthquake of Oct 2005, floods for the second straight year this summer, and the loss of 35,000 lives and about $70 billion in damage suffered by Pakistan during the “war against terror”.

“Despite all these enormous challenges, our courageous nation stands united and steadfast, demonstrating unparalleled attributes of national resilience and resolve. Against all odds Pakistan continues to progress steadily under the democratic leadership. The Pakistani nation can, therefore, rightly take pride in its resilience which has carried it through crises.”

However, Mr Gilani cautioned, frequent tests can break the toughest, especially if no normality was in sight.

“Whether it is climate change or terrorism, it is disease or food security, we need each other not only for addressing our present challenges but also to ensure a better future for posterity.”

The prime minister said the government and people of Pakistan fully supported the building of a “resilient Commonwealth”.

The agenda before heads of government and representatives from the 54 member states include international peace and security, good governance and debt management.

The Commonwealth restored Pakistan’s membership in 2008 after the government came to power.

MOU: On the sidelines of the Commonwealth meeting, Pakistan and Australia signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) for “sustained and continued partnership” to boost political ties and enhance development in all spheres.

Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar said the MoU on ‘Partnership for development’ would go a long way in building a strong, long-term relationship to bring the two countries closer and help Pakistan fight poverty.

The agreement would help the two countries work together on development projects under a sustained mechanism spanning over four years, she told APP.

Ms Khar said Australia recognised Pakistan’s role in peace and stability of the region and the two countries would go towards expanding their ties into an economic relationship.

Australian Foreign Minister Kevin Rudd said the two countries had a long-term relationship, including training of Pakistani military personnel.

He, however, said there was need to do more and to address common security challenges.

He said the agreement was aimed at bringing about a material difference in the lives of the people of Pakistan.

He said school education in Pakistan was a priority for Australia and it was working in Balochistan to provide better educational facilities to people.

He said 10,000 midwives had been trained by Australia in primary healthcare.

Mr Rudd said the real challenge was taking the people of Pakistan out of poverty. He said his country was one of Pakistan’s largest external development partners.

MALAYSIA: Talking to his Malaysian counterpart Mohammad Najib Tun Abdul Razak, Prime Minister Gilani called for reactivation of the two countries’ Joint Ministerial Commission (JMC) and for increased cooperation between their private sectors to initiate joint projects in agriculture, energy infrastructure development and pharmaceuticals.

He also called for greater market access on a preferential basis.

The prime minister sought Malaysia’s support for getting a ‘full dialogue partnership’ with the Association of South-east Asian Nations.

He also sought Malaysian expertise in solar energy and other alternative means to help Pakistan meet its energy shortfall.

The Malaysian prime minister said the activation of the JMC, that had been dormant for years, would infuse a new spirit in bilateral ties.

HUMAN RIGHTS: Britain’s Queen Elizabeth opened the meeting of leaders of the 54 states of the Commonwealth, home to a third of the world’s population and five of the G20 leading economies, but struggling to make much impact on global policies.

Leaders on Friday took tentative steps to tighten up on human rights abuses by members, but have still to address tougher measures some warn the group must take to remain relevant.

Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard told reporters that the leaders had backed an internal report calling for a more proactive stance in defending human rights.—Agencies