12.4.2008
President Pervez Musharaff of Pakistan
reiterated his country’s opposition to terrorism in
all its manifestations, its readiness to strike against
terrorism and assured Sri Lanka of all assistance to defeat
terrorism in the country.
This
assurance came when the Pakistani President met with Sri
Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa in China today. Two
South Asian leaders are at present in China to participate
in the 2008 Annual Conference of the BOAO Forum for Asia.
President
Musharaff, who expressed his condolences at the assassination
of Minister Jeyaraj Fernandopulle, condemned such acts
of terror which underlined the need for its elimination.
President
Mahinda Rajapaksa congratulated President Musharaff for
the successful holding of peaceful elections in the country,
and his commitment to restoring democracy in Pakistan.
He explained to the Pakistani leader the actions being
taken to defeat the terrorism of the LTTE in Sri Lanka,
and Sri Lanka’s own actions to restore democracy
to the entire country, which is already seen in the elections
that were held to local bodies in the East and the forthcoming
elections to the Eastern Provincial Council.
In discussions on trade and economic relations between
the two countries, President Rajapaksa explained the need
to enhance the existing Free Trade Agreement between the
two countries to a Comprehensive Economic Partnership,
which view found favour with President Musharaff.
The
Pakistani leader explained Pakistan’s success in
holding free and fair elections, and said the Foreign
Policy of Pakistan remained unchanged with a keen interest
to strengthen the existing good relations between the
two countries.
President
Musharaff also thanked President Rajapaksa and Sri Lanka
for the clear stance taken in support of Pakistan over
the recent moves by some member states to suspend the
country from membership of the Commonwealth. He was appreciative
of the understanding Sri Lanka had shown of the situation
in Pakistan, and noted this as an example of the lasting
good relations between the two countries and their leaders.
The Pakistani President said he looked forward to a successful
SAARC Summit to be held in Sri Lanka later this year.
President
Musharaff was accompanied by the Pakistani Foreign Minister
Shah Mahmud Qureshi and Foreign Minister Ahmed Mukhtar.
Associated
with President Mahinda Rajapaksa were Minister of Foreign
Affairs Rohitha Bogollagama, Minister of Export Development
and International Trade G. L. Peiris and Secretary to
the President Lalith Weeratunga.
Courtesy - Asian
Tribune
