Global, regional issues: Mamnoon, Indonesian president agree on joint mechanism for consultation

President Mamnoon Hussain and his Indonesian counterpart Joko Widodo on Monday agreed on setting up a joint mechanism between their countries for holding political consultation on global and regional issues. In a meeting held on the sidelines of fifth Extraordinary Summit of Organisation for Islamic Cooperation (OIC) on Palestine and Al-Quds, both leaders stressed the need for devising a strategy to find solutions to the problems and conflicts particularly confronting the Muslim countries.
President Mamnoon said Pakistan and Indonesia together could also work for removing the negative impression about Muslims, and for countering Islamophobia. He felicitated Indonesia on holding the OIC which had gathered the Muslim leaders to find a way for lasting solution of the Palestine issue.
Similarly, he said the Muslim world should also extend support to Kashmiris for their just demand of right to self-determination. Mamnoon Hussain said Pakistan attached great importance to its relations with Indonesia and stressed the need for enhancing bilateral ties particularly in trade.
He mentioned the bilateral trade had crossed $2 billion and appreciated the recent signing of agreement under which Pakistan would export one million metric ton rice per annum to Indonesia over the next four years. President Mamnoon expressed satisfaction that the Preferential Trade Agreement (PTA) between the two countries was operational since September 2013 and said there was a need to move towards Free Trade Agreement (FTA). He invited the Indonesian investors to take advantage of favourable and attractive investment opportunities in Pakistan.
President Mamnoon said Pakistan condemned terrorism in all its forms and manifestation and emphasised that both Pakistan and Indonesia should enhance cooperation through already established mechanism of Joint Working Group on counter-terrorism. He mentioned that the ongoing military operation Zarb-e-Azb had struck a severe blow to terrorists and was nearing a successful completion. He also suggested to enhance cooperation in defence sector between the two countries. President Mamnoon appreciated Indonesian support for full dialogue partnership with ASEAN and said Pakistan was firmly committed to cultivating a co-operative and mutually beneficial relationship with ASEAN.
Mamnoon Hussain lauded Indonesia's support for the establishment of Asian Parliament and said parliamentary exchanges promote better understanding of each others' perspectives. Indonesian President Joko Widodo appreciated the efforts of Pakistan for reducing tensions between Saudi Arabia and Iran. He said Pakistan and Indonesia being the brotherly Muslim countries should continue playing their role for Muslim unity.