Zardari, Kyrgyz President discuss bilateral ties, regional issues

President Asif Ali Zardari said on Wednesday that the democratic government of Pakistan had given new impetus to its relations with Kyrgyzstan and called for more work together to improve the working and implementation of the quadripartite Agreement on Transit Traffic.The President was talking to Kyrgyzstan President Roza Otunbayeva who called on him here on Wednesday on the sidelines of the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) meeting.Zardari said that the ECO was a useful forum and there was a need to further strengthen it.The two leaders discussed bilateral and regional issues of mutual interest with particular focus on trade and economic relations and cooperation in diverse fields. Zardari congratulated the Kyrgyz President on successful holding of elections and formation of a new government. The President said that Pakistan attached great importance to taking further steps for strengthening bilateral relations with Kyrgyzstan. President Zardari told his Kyrgyz counterpart that both the countries should enhance connectivity and create an institutional framework as well as infrastructure for promoting trade. The President greatly appreciated the support of the Kyrgyzstan government in ensuring the protection of Pakistani students in their country. Both the leaders expressed satisfaction over holding of the 11th ECO Summit and efforts of the socio-economic progress and prosperity of the region and for their people. President Zardari invited the Kyrgyz President to visit Pakistan at the earliest opportunity. Foreign Minister Makhdoom Shah Mahmood Qureshi, Minister for Defence Ch. Ahmed Mukhtar, Interior Minister Rehman Malik, Chairman Board of Investment, Saleem H Mandviwala and senior officials were present during the meeting.  – App