ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani Tuesday said that Pakistan was looking forward to broaden its relations with Thailand.
He said that immense potential existed between the two countries in the areas of education, trade, investment and culture and the visit of Princess Maha Chakri Sirndhora would further cement the bilateral ties.
Gilani expressed these views while talking to Princess Maha Chakri Sirndhora of Thailand who met him here at the Prime Minister House.
Prime Minister Gilani recalled his meeting with his Thai counterpart in Davos in which both leaders agreed to strengthen their bilateral ties.
Referring to Pakistan's relations with China, he said that China was corner-stone of Pakistan's foreign policy, adding, "Sino- Pakistan relations were higher than Himalaya, sweeter than honey and stronger than steel" and were a factor of stability in the region.
The Prime Minister said that bright prospects of trilateral cooperation existed among Pakistan, China and Thailand.
Speaking on the occasion, Princess Maha Charki said that bilateral relations between Thailand and China were on the upward trajectory.
She appreciated the proposal of establishing trilateral cooperative framework to boost multilateral trade and economic cooperation.
Princess Maha Chakri said that she was hugely impressed by Ghandara art exhibition. She asked the Prime Minister to hold similar exhibition in Thailand as well, as the country was home to a large number of the Buddhist population.
The Prime Minister directed the Ministry of National Heritage to meet the required formalities and other details with its counterpart Ministry in Thailand to hold the exhibition at an appropriate time.
Gilani appreciated the Princess for her services in the fields of education, health and for the welfare of children and women.
He said that the government was focusing on the empowerment of women and has introduced various reforms in legal, political, administrative and economic domains.
He particularly mentioned Benazir Income Support Program (BISP) as a flagship program meant to empower women economically.
He said that the women were the special focus of the program and six million families were benefiting from the direct cash assistance scheme as the assistance was being given to the women of these families.
BISP has been acknowledged as a success story as the largest social safety net in Asia, the Prime Minister added.
Later on the Prime Minister hosted a luncheon in the honour of Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirndhora, which was attended by Chairman Senate Syed Nayyar Hussain Bokhari, Speaker National Assembly Dr Fahmida Mirza, Federal Ministers, Parliamentarians, members of civil society and media.
Speaking at the luncheon, Prime Minister Gilani said Pakistan and Thailand will continue to make headway in forging a substantive partnership and cooperation would continue to grow across diverse areas of human endeavour.
He said the royal visit has added a new milestone in journey of friendship, adding, Pakistan and Thailand share long-standing friendship and the two countries were commemorating 60th anniversary of their diplomatic relations.
Gilani said the cultural connection between the two countries goes back more than two millennia to the Buddhist Gandhara period.
He said Pakistan was proud to have preserved and promoted this rich heritage, which was indeed the common cultural heritage of the world, including Thailand.
"We deeply appreciate Your Royal Highness's interest in this heritage and hope that our two countries can work together for its further promotion," Gilani said.
He also appreciated the life-long efforts of the Princess for the development and well-being of the disadvantaged people, particularly children and women. He particularly mentioned her contribution to Pakistan-Thailand relations.
Gilani reaffirmed his strong support for the people of Thailand as they suffered enormously from the devastating floods last year.
He expressed confidence that the Thai nation will face and overcome this natural disaster with its characteristic resilience.
"We extend our best wishes in the present rehabilitation and reconstruction phase," he said.
Gilani also appreciated the Thai support for the victims of the floods in Pakistan in 2010 and said it was deeply touching and will be long remembered.
The Prime Minister wished to continue progress and prosperity to the people of Thailand and deeper ties of friendship and cooperation between Pakistan and Thailand in the years to come.
He said the visit carries forward the long-standing tradition of royal visits from Thailand to Pakistan and recalled the state visit of King Bhumibol Adulyadej and Queen Sirikit in March 1962.
The Prime Minister also extended warm felicitations on the 84th birthday and seventh cycle birthday anniversary of King Bhumibol Adulyadej. He noted that the people of Thailand have made remarkable progress under King Bhumibol guidance for over six decades now.
In her luncheon speech, Princess Maha Chakri expressed the hope that bilateral relations would further improve between Pakistan and Thailand as they shared centuries-old cultural bond, which was reflected from the ancient Ghandhara civilization having its roots in Pakistan.
The Princess said that she vividly recalled the visits of her parents to Pakistan fifty years ago and was fascinated to see the pictures of the visit.
She further said that she would like to come to the country as often as she could.
Mentioning her visit to Taxila museum on yesterday, the Princess said that she was enthralled to see the artifacts of the Ghandhara civilization, beauty and perfection of craftsmanship and their aesthetic taste.
The Princess emphasized the need of boosting cooperation in the fields of education, archeology, information technology, adding that the universities of both countries could play a meaningful role in enhancing people-to-people contacts.
The Princess thanked the government and people of Pakistan for presenting her a goat of Burberry breed, which is bred in Dera Ghazi Khan Area of Pakistan.
The Prime Minister also presented her a photograph of the Burberry goat.
The Princess said that she would like to raise the breed in the mountainous areas of her country as a source of supplementing incomes of the poor people.
She also thanked the government and people of Pakistan for extending her and the members of her delegation warm welcome and excellent hospitality.
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