Colombo, June 25 (newsin.asia): The Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan told the Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa over telephone on Thursday, that issues in the South Asian region must be settled through cooperation and not confrontation if the true potential of the more than 1.5 billion people of the region is to be realized.
The goals of sustainable development and prosperity should be advanced through regional cooperation, using forums like SAARC, the Pakistani leader said.
Khan apprised Gotabaya Rajapaksa about his “Global Initiative on Debt Relief” for developing countries to mitigate the severe socio-economic impact of the Covid-19 pandemic. He stressed the need for a “holistic solution”, and underlined the importance of the developed and developing countries cooperating and growing together.
Khan commended Sri Lanka’s efforts to fight the Covid-19 pandemic and briefed the Sri Lankan President about the latest situation in Pakistan and the steps taken by his government to contain the pandemic, efforts to save lives, secure livelihoods, and sustain the economy.
The two leaders agreed to remain in close contact to coordinate regional response to the Covid-19-related and other challenges and to realize opportunities
Khan shared his perspective on the grave situation in “Indian occupied Jammu & Kashmir ” and underscored the imperative of a peaceful resolution of the dispute over Jammu and Kashmir.
The Pakistani Prime Minister reiterated the invitation to the Sri Lankan President to visit Pakistan once the Covid-19 situation improves.
Pakistan and Sri Lanka are bound by a close, friendly relationship based on mutual trust, mutual respect and sovereign equality, a press release from the Pakistan High Commission stated.