Czech Deputy Foreign Minister calls on Foreign Secretary Salman Bashir

Islamabad: 1. Foreign Secretary Salman Bashir received the Deputy Foreign Minister of Czech Republic, Mr. Tomas Dub at Foreign Office today and discussed issues of mutual interest. They expressed satisfaction at the state of relations between the two countries, reiterating their mutual desire to expand these relations in all spheres to the mutual benefit of the two peoples.

2. Foreign Secretary Mr. Salman Bashir apprised the Deputy Foreign Minister about the regional situation especially efforts at peace and reconciliation in Afghanistan through an Afghan- led and Afghan- owned process and the resumption of the Pakistan-India dialogue process.

3. The two also exchanged views on expanding Pakistan- EU relations, noting that the first Pakistan- EU Summit meeting was held in 2009 during the Czech Presidency of the EU. The Deputy Foreign Minister supported regular summit meetings between Pakistan and EU as well as commencement of negotiations between the two for a Free Trade Agreement.

4. Earlier, the Deputy Foreign Minister held annual bilateral consultations at the Foreign Office. The Pakistan side was led by Additional Foreign Secretary Mr. Abdul Basit. The two sides agreed to focus on all aspects of bilateral relations especially on augmenting economic and commercial relations.

5. Czech Deputy Foreign Minister Tomas Dub also called on the Ministers of Defence, Commerce and Defence Production.

For more information, contact:
Syed Haider Ali Jafri
Personal Secretary
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Government of Pakistan
Tel: +9251 921 0335 and 9056604