Malé : Pakistan and Maldives on Tuesday agreed to further enhance their bilateral relations in various fields, overcome common challenges and work jointly to make the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) a vibrant organization, Associated Press of Pakistan (APP) reported.
Speaking at a joint press conference here along with President of Maldives Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom, Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif said they exchanged views and ideas to further expand and strengthen bilateral relations in all areas of mutual interest, including trade, education, tourism, defense and people-to-people contacts.
Prime Minister Sharif is on a three-day official visit to the Republic of Maldives at the invitation of President Abdul Gayoom, and will be the chief guest at the 52nd Independence Day celebrations of the country on Wednesday, July 26.
Sharif said they had a complete meeting of minds on the need to overcome common challenges such as climate change and terrorism. He added that they also agreed to work together to make the SAARC a vibrant organization and a vehicle to realize their shared dreams for a peaceful and prosperous region.
For his part, President Abdul Gayoom said the bonds of goodwill and amity would endure and continue to manifest themselves in ever-closer cooperation between the two countries, not only bilaterally but at all the relevant international fora as well.
The president commended Pakistan’s tremendous contributions to Maldives in the field of education and thanked the prime minister for the establishment of a medical college for the people of Maldives. He said they also agreed to join their efforts for eradication of terrorism and extremism.
—AB/IINA