Pakistan Foreign Minister Makhdoom Shah Mahmood Qureshi attending the D-8 Foreign Ministers meeting spoke to The Star’s Teh Eng Hock on the grouping’s future and Pakistan-Malaysia relations.
Question: Does Pakistan think D-8 has been effective since its set-up in 1997?
Answer: The D-8 is the most advanced and human resource-endowed group in the Islamic world. Pakistan is keen to see D-8 emerge as a vibrant and effective organisation, focused on trade and economic co-operation and has been an active and regular participant in all D-8 activities since 1997.
In session: Qureshi attending the 12th session of the D-8 council of meetings in Kuala Lumpur Monday.
The D-8 has been successful in arriving at different agreements to promote economic co-operation in the region.
Should the leaders meet more often to make D-8 more relevant and beneficial to members?
The D-8 countries have a great potential for trade and investment and to co-operate with each other in multiple fields such as agriculture, energy, tourism, human and rural development.
The D-8 has been successful in arranging meetings of the leaders both at the summit and council level. In the current set-up, D-8 consists of three platforms i.e summit, council of ministers and commission, which have close co-ordination to pursue the agenda of this organisation effectively.
Please explain Pakistan’s contribution to D-8 and how much more can Pakistan further contribute?
The cardinal objective of our government is to achieve socio-economic development of the people of Pakistan. We are also in the process of negotiating bilateral and regional trading arrangements with D-8 countries. Pakistan’s trade with D-8 countries accounts for 8.14 % of its overall trade.
Pakistan is the one of the few countries to ratify the Agreement on Simplification of Visa Proce-dures for businessmen of D-8 countries. Pakistan is willing to share and exchange information and knowledge with other D-8 members in areas where Pakistan has competitive advantage to further strengthen relations and co-operation for better common future.
How do you view bilateral relationship between Pakistan and Malaysia and how can they be translated into better economic, trade and investment relations?
Malaysia and Pakistan have excellent relations. Our fraternal bonds of friendship emanate from our common religious heritage as well as shared perceptions and aspirations as developing countries.
Our close, cordial and friendly ties are marked by co-operation in international forums on all issues and matters of concern, at the regional and global levels. Pakistan was one of the first few countries in the world to recognise Malaysia and establish diplomatic relations.
In 2007, our countries celebrated 60 years of friendship. We also share with pride the outstanding accomplishments of Malaysia in terms of its development of material and human resources and above all in Malaysia’s achievement of a tolerant society with a harmonious multi-ethnic culture.
We look forward to translate the tremendous goodwill into increased engagement in economic, trade and developmental-linkages and joint-ventures.
There is huge scope and potential for joint-ventures and investments, especially in areas such as Islamic finance, halal industries, energy, housing and infrastructure development, telecommunications and media as well as education, health, agriculture and human resource development.
Malaysia and Pakistan have achieved a bilateral FTA which is the first among OIC member countries.
Question: Does Pakistan think D-8 has been effective since its set-up in 1997?
Answer: The D-8 is the most advanced and human resource-endowed group in the Islamic world. Pakistan is keen to see D-8 emerge as a vibrant and effective organisation, focused on trade and economic co-operation and has been an active and regular participant in all D-8 activities since 1997.
In session: Qureshi attending the 12th session of the D-8 council of meetings in Kuala Lumpur Monday.
The D-8 has been successful in arriving at different agreements to promote economic co-operation in the region.
Should the leaders meet more often to make D-8 more relevant and beneficial to members?
The D-8 countries have a great potential for trade and investment and to co-operate with each other in multiple fields such as agriculture, energy, tourism, human and rural development.
The D-8 has been successful in arranging meetings of the leaders both at the summit and council level. In the current set-up, D-8 consists of three platforms i.e summit, council of ministers and commission, which have close co-ordination to pursue the agenda of this organisation effectively.
Please explain Pakistan’s contribution to D-8 and how much more can Pakistan further contribute?
The cardinal objective of our government is to achieve socio-economic development of the people of Pakistan. We are also in the process of negotiating bilateral and regional trading arrangements with D-8 countries. Pakistan’s trade with D-8 countries accounts for 8.14 % of its overall trade.
Pakistan is the one of the few countries to ratify the Agreement on Simplification of Visa Proce-dures for businessmen of D-8 countries. Pakistan is willing to share and exchange information and knowledge with other D-8 members in areas where Pakistan has competitive advantage to further strengthen relations and co-operation for better common future.
How do you view bilateral relationship between Pakistan and Malaysia and how can they be translated into better economic, trade and investment relations?
Malaysia and Pakistan have excellent relations. Our fraternal bonds of friendship emanate from our common religious heritage as well as shared perceptions and aspirations as developing countries.
Our close, cordial and friendly ties are marked by co-operation in international forums on all issues and matters of concern, at the regional and global levels. Pakistan was one of the first few countries in the world to recognise Malaysia and establish diplomatic relations.
In 2007, our countries celebrated 60 years of friendship. We also share with pride the outstanding accomplishments of Malaysia in terms of its development of material and human resources and above all in Malaysia’s achievement of a tolerant society with a harmonious multi-ethnic culture.
We look forward to translate the tremendous goodwill into increased engagement in economic, trade and developmental-linkages and joint-ventures.
There is huge scope and potential for joint-ventures and investments, especially in areas such as Islamic finance, halal industries, energy, housing and infrastructure development, telecommunications and media as well as education, health, agriculture and human resource development.
Malaysia and Pakistan have achieved a bilateral FTA which is the first among OIC member countries.
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