Foreign Minister Khurshid M Kasuri on Wednesday said Pakistan attached great importance to its relations with Vietnam over the past years and the country's leadership is looking forward to warmly welcome the President of Vietnam later in the month.
He stated this at a meeting with the Vice Foreign Minister of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam Le Cong Phung, who called on Foreign Minister Kasuri in the afternoon.
Le Cong Phung conveyed greetings of the Foreign Minister of Vietnam, which Foreign Minister Kasuri warmly reciprocated.
The visiting Vice Foreign Minister expressed satisfaction over the development of friendly relations between Pakistan and Vietnam, especially since the visit of President Pervez Musharraf to Vietnam in May 2001.
Le Phung said that there were tremendous opportunities for the development of co-operation in diverse fields and through enhancement of contacts between the private sectors of the two countries. He also expressed appreciation and support for Pakistan's policy to strengthen its ties with the countries of South East Asia.
Foreign Minister Kasuri underlined the need for development of linkages between Saarc and the Asean.
This was welcomed by Vice Foreign Minister Le Cong Phung.
The Vietnamese Vice Foreign Minister is currently on a visit to Pakistan to finalise details of the visit of the President of Vietnam to Pakistan later in the month.