By P.K.Balachandran
Colombo, February 24: Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan and Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa held a one-on-one meeting at the Presidential Secretariat here on Wednesday in which the two leaders affirmed cooperation in multilateral forums, the Pakistan High Commission said in a statement.
Imran Khan noted that Pakistan and Sri Lanka had always stood by each other and re-affirmed Pakistan’s steadfast support to Sri Lanka in future. The close cooperation between the two sides in multilateral forums was re-affirmed
This commitment is significant in the context of the on-going session of the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) in Geneva in which an anti-Sri Lankan resolution is expected. Pakistan is a member of the 47-nation council.
During the talks held in a warm and cordial atmosphere, the Pakistani Prime Minister underlined the “exceptional quality of Pakistan-Sri Lanka relations marked by trust, understanding and mutual support.”
Imran Khan emphasized the importance of building a robust economic partnership characterized by enhanced bilateral trade, investments, and commercial cooperation.
He also laid emphasis on deeper collaboration in diverse fields —particularly agriculture, tourism, science & technology, sports, education and culture.
The importance of sharing experiences in poverty alleviation was also stressed.
Two leaders exchanged views on sharing technical knowhow in order to promote agriculture in both the countries, a release from the Lankan President’s office said.
The two leaders stated that it is their objective to develop agricultural economy while ensuring higher revenue for the farmer and fair price for the consumer. The agricultural economy in Pakistan is quite similar to that of Sri Lanka, the Pakistan Prime Minister observed
While noting the close traditional and cultural ties between the two countries, Prime Minister Imran Khan highlighted that Pakistan had the potential of being a choice destination for religious tourism for Sri Lankan people. He particularly highlighted the rich Buddhist heritage of Pakistan.
In the regional context, Prime Minister Imran Khan shared his vision of peace, development, and connectivity.
Prime Minister Imran Khan also emphasized the importance of regional cooperation through the platform of SAARC and the opportunities for regional prosperity through CPEC, the flagship project of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).
The Pakistan Prime Minister extended a cordial invitation to President Gotabaya Rajapaksa to visit Pakistan at the earliest convenience.
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