Better economic support between Islamabad, Manila agreed
19 April, 2005
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| MANILA: Philippine President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo (L) walks with visiting Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf as they review troops during the wel |
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MANILA, April 20 (Online): Pakistan and Philippines have agreed to promote bilateral economic and commercial cooperation, saying better economic relations are in the interests of both the countries.
This was decided in a one-on-one meeting between President Gen Pervez Musharraf and Philippines President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo at the Melegam Palace on Tuesday.
The two leaders discussed matters of mutual interest especially cooperation in anti-terrorism endeavours.
"On the military aspect, we agreed to enhance our intelligence cooperation," Arroyo told reporters after the meeting on Tuesday. "It's very very important in the world of international terrorism."
Arroyo said Philippine authorities are to work closely with Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), which has been tracking down key operatives of the Taliban after the hardline Islamic militia were toppled from power by US-led forces in 2001.
President Gen Pervez Musharraf said there were vast opportunities for economic and commercial cooperation and support between Pakistan and Philippines.
He said Pakistan was interested in doing free trade with the ASEAN (Association for South East Asian Nations) states.
He sought the Philippines cooperation and support in contributing a lot to Pakistan's better trade relations with ASEAN states and said this could facilitate Pakistani products reaching ASEAN markets.
Gloria promised Philippines would extend every possible cooperation to Pakistan in getting access of ASEAN markets.
Later, senior officials of the two countries joined the discussion during which ways and means for enhancing cooperation in war on terrorism and commerce, economy and culture were explored.
Gen Musharraf said Manila should provide facilities for the export of Pakistani rice, the best in the world, to Philippines.
The Philippines president appreciated the Pakistan's role in war against global terrorism and said her country fully supported Islamabad's endeavours to purge the world of elements promoting terrorism, religious extremism and bigotry.
She said her country would import medicines from Pakistan that were cheap and of good quality.
Earlier, Gen Musharraf was given a warm reception upon his arrival at the Malegam Palace. The Philippines president received him and members of his delegation.
The president inspected a guard of honour.
Musharraf and Arroyo also witnessed the signing of a memorandum of understanding serving as a "legal framework to facilitate cooperation and inter-operability between the security, intelligence and law enforcement agencies of the two countries".
The agreement was signed by Philippine Interior Secretary Angelo Reyes and Pakistan Foreign Secretary Riaz Khan.
Pakistan's United Marketing and Philippines' National Trading Corporation signed a memorandum of understanding for export of Pakistani medicines to Philippines.
The two countries also finalized an agreement for ending visa restrictions for those having diplomatic passports.
President Musharraf is the first Pakistani leader to visit the Philippines, a key supporter of the US-led war on international terrorism.
He will fly to Indonesia on Wednesday after his three-day state visit here.
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