Islamabad (Web Desk): Pakistan and Malaysia have reaffirmed to strengthen bilateral economic cooperation, enhance trade, remove barriers in key sectors, provide level playing field, and address the trade imbalance.
The understanding to this effect reached at delegation level talks between the two countries in Islamabad today. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and his Malaysian counterpart Dato' Seri Anwar Ibrahim led their respective sides.
In this context, both sides agreed to an early Joint Review Committee meeting for a comprehensive evaluation of the Malaysia-Pakistan Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement with the view to further strengthening the bilateral economic partnership. The Malaysia-Pakistan Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement was signed on November 8, 2007 in Kuala Lumpur.
The two prime ministers noted the historic and fraternal ties between Pakistan and Malaysia and emphasized the importance of regular high-level exchanges and strategic dialogue and strengthening of bilateral institutional mechanisms.
Both sides agreed to enhance cooperation in processing of Halal products. The Pakistan side offered to increase export of Halal meat to Malaysia to meet their demand.
PM Shehbaz Sharif gave proposal of increasing export of Halal meat from Pakistan to Malaysia to 200 million dollars per annum.
The two sides further reaffirmed their strategic partnership and the importance of bilateral defence exchanges, rooted in the MoU on Defence Cooperation signed on First August 1997.
PM Shehbaz welcomed Malaysia's decision to send a high-level delegation to participate in IDEAS 2024.
Both the sides agreed on the need to enhance educational linkages and cooperation between the institutes of higher learning and technical and vocational training.
They recognised the importance of the tourism industry and youth exchanges in promoting people-to-people contacts, sustainable socio-economic growth, and in fostering mutual understanding between Pakistan and Malaysia.
They welcomed the increase in tourism between the two countries and agreed to expand aviation cooperation and enhance bilateral business-to-business exchanges.
The two sides also exchanged views on important regional and global developments including the situation in Palestine and the Middle East.
The two prime ministers witnessed exchange of signed Memorandums of Understanding and a Letter of Cooperation.
This included MoU between Trade Development Authority of Pakistan and Malaysia External Trade Development Cooperation on trade cooperation, and MoU for cooperation in Halal trade between Pakistan-Malaysia Business Council of Pakistan and Malaysia-Pakistan Business Council of Malaysia.
A Letter of Cooperation between Pakistan Telecommunication Authority and Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission was also signed.
PM Shehbaz also hosted a luncheon in honour of the Malaysian Prime Minister and accompanying delegation.
Addressing a joint news conference in Islamabad today along with his Malaysian counterpart Anwar Ibrahim, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said a whole gamut of cooperation was discussed during the meeting.
He said we covered trade, investment opportunities, strategic and defence cooperation, tourism, agriculture, semiconductor, green energy, skilled labor, and youth empowerment.
PM Shehbaz said export of Halal meat to the tune of $200 million per annum as well as selling basmati rice was discussed. He assured the Malaysian Prime Minister that Pakistan will not compromise on quality and commitment in this regard.
The prime minister said thousands of Pakistani students are getting high quality education in Malaysia, which is commendable. He expressed the confidence that Malaysian students will also be welcomed to study in Pakistani institutions.
PM Shehbaz appreciated Malaysia's stand on Gaza and the oppressed people of Palestine. He said the unsettled question of Kashmir is a matter of grave concern for a peaceful world. He said innocent people of Kashmir are struggling for their basic right to self-determination.
In his remarks, the Malaysian prime minister said a trade office will be opened in Karachi next month to enhance bilateral trade, including the import of Halal meat and rice from Pakistan.
Talking about the issue of skilled labour, Dato' Seri Anwar Ibrahim said our focus is on professionals in the field of information technology, digital and artificial intelligence. He said Malaysia is regarded as hub of semiconductor industry and we should collaborate in this field too.
The Malaysian premier further said we discussed special economic zones, the issue of trade, investment, military and defence procurement. He said Malaysia looks forward to increase number of flights to Pakistan as well as to welcome Pakistani tourists in the country.
Dato' Seri Anwar Ibrahim appreciated and supported Pakistan's stance on Gaza and Palestine. He said we are also committed to support the UN Security Council resolutions on Kashmir and this issue should be resolved amicably.
The Malaysian Prime Minister lauded the vision of Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah and the philosophy of Allama Dr Muhammad Iqbal.
Earlier today, Prime Minister of Malaysia Dato' Seri Anwar Ibrahim held one-on-one meeting with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in Islamabad.
The two leaders held meaningful and outcome-oriented in-depth discussions in a warm and cordial atmosphere.
The discussion covered a wide range of bilateral, regional and international issues of mutual interest including those being faced by the Muslim Ummah, the Radio Pakistan reported.
They also discussed the mechanisms to enhance bilateral cooperation with a view to achieving concrete results in these areas.
PM Shehbaz congratulated Malaysian Prime Minister on Malaysia's upcoming Chairmanship of Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in 2025.
Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim welcomed Pakistan's continued engagement with ASEAN as Sectoral Dialogue Partner and expressed support for further engagement between Pakistan and ASEAN as well as Pakistan's larger role in ASEAN.
Noting the long history of close cooperation between the two countries, both the Prime Ministers reaffirmed commitment to strengthen the mutually beneficial partnership.
In setting the tone and future direction of bilateral relations between the two countries, the two leaders stressed the importance of dialogue and exchanges of visits at all levels, and underlined the importance of the Joint Ministerial Commission, Bilateral Consultations and other mechanisms to enhance engagement at all levels.
Prime Minister of Malaysia Anwar Ibrahim was given the guard of honour as he arrived at the PM’s House to meet his counterpart Shehbaz Sharif and hold the delegation-level talks.
As he arrived at the venue of the formal welcome ceremony, PM Shehbaz warmly welcomed the foreign dignitary who arrived here on a three-day state visit to Pakistan on Wednesday.
The national anthems of Pakistan and Malaysia were played as the foreign dignitary stood at the salute dais.
The smartly turned-out contingents of the armed forces presented the guard of honour which the Malaysian prime minister reviewed.
Both the prime ministers introduced their respective delegations to each other before proceeding to the bilateral meeting and delegation-level talks.
As a tradition, Malaysian premier Anwar Ibrahim also planted a sapling in the lawn of the PM House.