Lankan Ranger
ELITE MEMBER
- Joined
- Aug 9, 2009
- Messages
- 12,550
- Reaction score
- 0
Pakistan & France agree to set up Joint Economic Commission
Pakistan and France on Tuesday agreed to setting up of a Joint Economic Commission for closer cooperation in food, agriculture, economic development and large scale training of nurses for export to the European Union and Middle East.
The decision was taken during a meeting between President Asif Ali Zardari and French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner, who called on him here at his hotel, prior to his departure for London.
The two sides agreed to hold the first meeting of the commission having four members from each side, in October in Islamabad, while subsequent meetings will be held alternatively at both the capitals.
France also assured to expedite the payments it had pledged under the Friends of Democratic Pakistan (FoDP) on priority, to help the country meet the situation arising out of floods and the large scale devastation.
The President was on a three-day visit to France and met his counterpart Nicholas Sarkozy on Monday, with both sides vowing to further expand and strengthen their bilateral ties in all spheres.
Spokesperson to the President Farhatullah Babar told media after the meeting that President Zardari stressed the importance of deeper bilateral ties between the two countries.
He also apprised the French Foreign Minister of the death and destruction caused by the floods, particularly in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and the need for international assistance to help Pakistan cope with the natural calamity.
The President in this regard stressed the importance of realization of the pledges made by the FoDP as the country has come under immense economic pressure, first due to its role in the war against terror and then because of the heavy rains that have killed over 1400 people and rendered millions homeless.
Foreign Minister Kouchner also expressed his extreme shock over the floods which hit north-west Pakistan and expressed Frances solidarity to the Pakistani people and assured all help on behalf of the European Union for humanitarian efforts.
President Zardari said the tribal areas of the country were under developed and were being used by some militants as a sanctuary.
He called for a massive economic development plan to create job opportunities for the unemployed youth so as to lure them away from tendencies that foster extremism.
President Zardari was of the view that greater access to the EU markets was vital to help the people better economic activities and to distance them away from the influence of Taliban.
He also called for setting up of a French bank branches in Pakistan to further boost trade and commerce.
President also asked the French Foreign Minister to explore the possibility of a debt swap arrangement and mentioned that the bilateral debt to France totaling 2.3 billion dollars include 845 million dollars ODA and 1.49 billion dollars of non-ODA assistance, the spokesperson said.
Farhatullah Babar said the President said that being a signatory to important international human rights covenants and having lately also ratified the Convention Against Torture (CAT) Pakistan more than qualified to be allowed market access by the EU countries.
He urged France to take the lead in pleading with the EU greater market access to it.
President Zardari also reiterated Pakistans interest in a serious and substantive engagement in civil nuclear cooperation under the IAEA safeguards with France.
The President said Pakistan was faced with a serious energy crisis and it needed to explore and exploit all sources of energy including hydro, thermal, solar, wind and nuclear.
President Zardari also called for setting up a research fund to facilitate scientific cooperation between the science institutions of the two countries and proposed enhancement of cultural exchanges between the two countries.
He appreciated the holding of Gandhara Exhibition at the Guimet museum in Paris and a month of Pakistan in Paris covering a vast number of cultural activities and thanked the French government for its support.
The President also raised the issue of travel advisories to French business representatives and said that the advisories and visa restriction impacted Pakistani businesses, and called for their review and relaxation.
During the meeting issues relating to the regional situation and Afghanistan also came under discussion. The President underlined the need for greater cooperation in intelligence sharing between the two countries in the fight against militancy.
The French Foreign Minister said that France deeply appreciated Pakistans role in the fight against militancy and that France would continue to support it in security and economic development areas.
He said that France was keen to hold the first meeting of the Joint Commission before October this year and work out a practicable plan for assistance in various areas of economic development issues and security.
DAWN.COM | Business | Pakistan, France agree to set up Joint Economic Commission
Pakistan and France on Tuesday agreed to setting up of a Joint Economic Commission for closer cooperation in food, agriculture, economic development and large scale training of nurses for export to the European Union and Middle East.
The decision was taken during a meeting between President Asif Ali Zardari and French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner, who called on him here at his hotel, prior to his departure for London.
The two sides agreed to hold the first meeting of the commission having four members from each side, in October in Islamabad, while subsequent meetings will be held alternatively at both the capitals.
France also assured to expedite the payments it had pledged under the Friends of Democratic Pakistan (FoDP) on priority, to help the country meet the situation arising out of floods and the large scale devastation.
The President was on a three-day visit to France and met his counterpart Nicholas Sarkozy on Monday, with both sides vowing to further expand and strengthen their bilateral ties in all spheres.
Spokesperson to the President Farhatullah Babar told media after the meeting that President Zardari stressed the importance of deeper bilateral ties between the two countries.
He also apprised the French Foreign Minister of the death and destruction caused by the floods, particularly in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and the need for international assistance to help Pakistan cope with the natural calamity.
The President in this regard stressed the importance of realization of the pledges made by the FoDP as the country has come under immense economic pressure, first due to its role in the war against terror and then because of the heavy rains that have killed over 1400 people and rendered millions homeless.
Foreign Minister Kouchner also expressed his extreme shock over the floods which hit north-west Pakistan and expressed Frances solidarity to the Pakistani people and assured all help on behalf of the European Union for humanitarian efforts.
President Zardari said the tribal areas of the country were under developed and were being used by some militants as a sanctuary.
He called for a massive economic development plan to create job opportunities for the unemployed youth so as to lure them away from tendencies that foster extremism.
President Zardari was of the view that greater access to the EU markets was vital to help the people better economic activities and to distance them away from the influence of Taliban.
He also called for setting up of a French bank branches in Pakistan to further boost trade and commerce.
President also asked the French Foreign Minister to explore the possibility of a debt swap arrangement and mentioned that the bilateral debt to France totaling 2.3 billion dollars include 845 million dollars ODA and 1.49 billion dollars of non-ODA assistance, the spokesperson said.
Farhatullah Babar said the President said that being a signatory to important international human rights covenants and having lately also ratified the Convention Against Torture (CAT) Pakistan more than qualified to be allowed market access by the EU countries.
He urged France to take the lead in pleading with the EU greater market access to it.
President Zardari also reiterated Pakistans interest in a serious and substantive engagement in civil nuclear cooperation under the IAEA safeguards with France.
The President said Pakistan was faced with a serious energy crisis and it needed to explore and exploit all sources of energy including hydro, thermal, solar, wind and nuclear.
President Zardari also called for setting up a research fund to facilitate scientific cooperation between the science institutions of the two countries and proposed enhancement of cultural exchanges between the two countries.
He appreciated the holding of Gandhara Exhibition at the Guimet museum in Paris and a month of Pakistan in Paris covering a vast number of cultural activities and thanked the French government for its support.
The President also raised the issue of travel advisories to French business representatives and said that the advisories and visa restriction impacted Pakistani businesses, and called for their review and relaxation.
During the meeting issues relating to the regional situation and Afghanistan also came under discussion. The President underlined the need for greater cooperation in intelligence sharing between the two countries in the fight against militancy.
The French Foreign Minister said that France deeply appreciated Pakistans role in the fight against militancy and that France would continue to support it in security and economic development areas.
He said that France was keen to hold the first meeting of the Joint Commission before October this year and work out a practicable plan for assistance in various areas of economic development issues and security.
DAWN.COM | Business | Pakistan, France agree to set up Joint Economic Commission
