Un accord entre le Pakistan et la France pour développer leurs relations bilatérales

Daily times (Karachi edition)
Thursday, July 6, 2006.

Pakistan, France agree to expand bilateral relations

Paris : Pakistan and France have decided to increase corporation in the economic, defence, scientific and education sectors, a Foreign Ministry statement said on Wednesday.

During a meeting in Paris, the French and Pakistani foreign ministers discussed a wide range of bilateral issues.

Expressing satisfaction over trade between Pakistani and France, which has crossed $1 billion mark, French foreign Minister P. Douste-Blazy said that France was encouraging it private sector to invest in Pakistan. He said that leading French firms including Carrefour, Alcatel and Renault were setting up or expanding operations in Pakistan.

The French foreign minister praised Pakistan's efforts for peace and stability in the South Asian region. He also commended Pakistan's role in peacekeeping missions under the UN and congratulated Pakistan on its election to the newly formed Human Rights Council.

Douste-Blazy said that France would assist in the rehabilitation of the October 8 earthquake victims. He said that France would also help Pakistan set up a University of Engineering and Sciences in Karachi.

The two foreign ministers also discussed the situation in Afghanistan, Iran, Iraq, and the Middle East. Referring to the UN reforms, Foreign minister Khurshid Mehood Kasuri highlighted the need for a more representative United Nations Security Council and for a consensus based approach on world issues. The French foreign minister accepted Kasuri's invitation to visit Pakistan. After the meeting, the two foreign ministers addressed a joint press conference and the French FM hosted a dinner at the French Foreign Office. Kasuri also held a breakfast meeting with leading French media personalities on Wednesday, a Pakistan Embassy statement said.

The participants at the meeting included representatives from French news agencies Le Figaro, Le Monde, Liberation, AFP, Reuters, Le Point, Le journal du Dimanche, France-2 TV and Radio France Info.

Kasuri briefed the meeting on the growing relations between Pakistan and France in the areas of trade and investment, education, defence and scientific and technical cooperation. He highlighted Pakistan's contributions to bringing stability and development in Afghanistan and the growing commercial and economic cooperation between the two countries.

He also briefed French reporters on Pakistan-India relations and the Kashmir dispute. He discussed the composite dialogue and confidence- building measures between India and Pakistan and emphasised the need for a meaningful dialogue to resolve the core issues between the two neighbours including the Kashmir dispute.

Kasuri also highlighted Pakistan's geo-economic importance as a potential regional hub for trade and commerce, particularly in the area of energy cooperation.