ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani on Friday chaired a meeting to discuss his forthcoming visit to the United Kingdom to boost bilateral trade and business relations.
Prime Minister Gilani will undertake the visit from May 8-13.
The meeting was attended by Mrs. Hina Rabbani Khar, Minister for Foreign Affairs, Begum Shahnaz Wazir Ali, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister, Saleem H. Mandviwala, Chairman BOI and high officials.
The meeting also discussed the first review of the Enhanced Strategic Dialogue between the two prime ministers during the visit.
The Prime Minister during his visit will attend the state opening of Parliament by Queen Elizabeth on May 9, and will participate in the reception in honour of the Parliamentarians at the House of Commons.
The Prime Minister will participate in the First Round of Annual Review of Pak-UK Enhanced Strategic Dialogue. The Enhanced Strategic Dialogue encompasses five areas of trade and business relations; financial and development cooperation; education and health; defence, security and cultural cooperation.
Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani and the British Prime Minister Cameron will review the progress being made in the above areas as a follow- up of their commitment in April 2011 to enter into a deeper and broader dialogue between the two countries aimed at strengthening friendship and promoting mutual prosperity and security.
Foreign Minister Mrs. Hina Rabbani Khar apprised the Prime Minister of the progress made in the five priority areas under the Enhanced Strategic Dialogue and outlined proposals to provide momentum to enhanced cooperation between Pakistan and the UK.
The Prime Minister said that Pakistan and the UK enjoy excellent relations and his visit will further boost cooperation between the two countries. The Prime Minister further said that Pakistan offers tremendous trade and investment opportunities and hoped that the British Companies would take advantage of these opportunities.
The Prime Minister expressed his satisfaction at the work being undertaken by the two countries on shared national security challenges including the area of counter-terrorism.
The Prime Minister said that the Enhanced Strategic Dialogue would intensify cooperation on shared interests including trade, economic growth and development, cultural cooperation, security and education.
The Leader of British opposition, Edmund Milliband, will also call on the Prime Minister.
The Prime Minister will go to the Buckingham Palace and meet the Duke of York. Besides, the British Foreign Secretary, Secretary for Trade and Investment, Secretary DFID will meet him and discuss areas of bilateral interest.
In Birmingham, the Prime Minister will address the Pakistani Community.
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