Advisor to Prime Minister on National Security and Foreign Affairs H.E. Mr. Sartaj Aziz calls on the Crown Prince and Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister of Saudi Arabia His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Abdulaziz al Saud

The Advisor to the Prime Minister on National Security and Foreign Affairs H.E. Mr. Sartaj Aziz called on the Crown Prince and Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister of Saudi Arabia His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Abdulaziz al Saud on February 16, 2014. Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs and the Foreign Secretary were also present in the meeting.

The Advisor briefed the Crown Prince on the key policies and priorities of Pakistan’s foreign policy. He also briefed His Royal Highness the Crown Prince on the efforts being made by the Government for promotion of peace and reconciliation in Afghanistan. The Advisor emphasized the importance the Government of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif attaches to Pakistan’s relations with Saudi Arabia.

His Royal Highness, Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister of Saudi Arabia Crown Prince Salman bin Abdulaziz al Saud stated that he was in his second home and the bonds of love and amity between the Saudi and Pakistani leadership were strong. The Crown Prince remarked that the political goodwill that existed between the two brotherly countries must be translated into effective economic relations, with emphasis on trade and investment, which would lead to tangible dividends for the progress and prosperity of the brotherly people of the two countries. His Royal Highness emphasized that Saudi Arabia was keen to further expand and diversify its relations with Pakistan in all areas of mutual interest.

The Advisor to the Prime Minister while appreciating the fact that the Crown Prince had chosen Pakistan as the first destination in his Asian tour, stated that His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Abdulaziz al Saud’s visit was manifestation of the commitment of the Saudi leadership towards taking Pak-Saudi relationship to new heights. In this regard, he emphasized the need to initiate a new era of strategic relationship between the two brotherly countries at the Foreign Ministers’ level. The Advisor also thanked the Government of Saudi for its compassion towards Pakistani community particularly the recent facilitation of their legalization after the implementation of the Nitaqat Programme.

Matters of mutual interest at bilateral, regional and international level, were also discussed in a cordial atmosphere.

Islamabad
16 February 2014

31/2014