Korean Parliamentary delegation calls on President

Islamabad, January 31, 2014 (PPI-OT): President Mamnoon Hussain has urged for vigorous steps to take Pakistan- Korea bilateral relations to new heights with focus on further deepening the trade and investment cooperation in diverse fields to the mutual benefit of the people of the two countries. Expressing satisfaction on bilateral cooperation during the past three decades that has expanded and intensified in various sectors, the President said that there still exist huge untapped potential of trade that needed to be tapped through mutual cooperation to further enhance the current level of bilateral trade volume.

The President said this during his meeting with Korean Parliamentary delegation headed by Speaker National Assembly of Republic of Korea, Mr. Kang Chang Hee at the President House today. Pakistan-Korea bilateral relations, matters of mutual interests and ways to further enhance Bilateral Parliamentary cooperation were discussed during the meeting.

Welcoming the Korean Parliamentary delegation, who is on two-day visit to Pakistan, the President said that Pakistan attaches great importance to its relations with South Korea and was keen to further underpin bilateral trade and commercial ties. Pakistan appreciates and was deeply impressed with the economic progress achieved by the Republic of Korea under the visionary leadership, the President remarked and added that Pakistan was keen to learn from Korean experience of development.

Highlighting the immense trade and investment potential, the President said that Pakistan has huge potential in energy sector which could be harnessed with Korean assistance by setting up power plants. The President on the occasion invited Korean companies to invest in energy sector and avail the huge incentive packages the present government is offering for investment in Pakistan. He urged for frequent exchange of business delegations which, he said was crucial for optimum utilization of the huge trade potential available in the two countries.

Underscoring the significance of bilateral parliamentary exchanges, the President expressed hope that the visit of Korean Parliamentary delegation led by Speaker National Assembly Mr. Kang Chang Hee would help further strengthen bilateral ties besides promoting Parliament to Parliament and people to people contacts between the two countries. Referring to the visit of Chairman Senate of Pakistan to Republic of Korea in October last year, the President said that Parliamentarians from both countries have a critical role to play in strengthening bilateral ties and urged the need for frequent exchange of parliamentary delegations.

The President expressed confidence that Pakistan-Republic of Korea Parliamentary Friendship Group that has recently been re-activated in National Assembly of Pakistan would help promote friendly ties besides enhancing bilateral parliamentary cooperation and people to people contacts between the two countries.

On educational cooperation between the two countries, the President said that large number of Pakistani students are studying in various institutions in Korea and urged the need for enhancing the number of scholarships for Pakistani students besides absorbing more Pakistani manpower . Pakistan possesses adequate skilled manpower and can meet South Korea’s additional manpower requirements, the President continued.

Speaker, National Assembly of South Korea, Mr. Kang Chang said that republic of Korea values its relations with Pakistan and was to keen further boost the existing relations through enhanced economic and parliamentary cooperation.

He thanked the President and the Government of Pakistan for the warm welcome and hospitality being extended to him and the accompanying delegation and expressed hope that the frequent exchange of Parliamentary delegations between the two countries would provide new impetus to the existing strong partnership between Pakistan and South Korea. Chairman Senate, Syed Nayyar Hussain Bokhari, Senator Osman Saifullah Khan and Secretary Senate, Mr. Amjad Pervez Malik were also present during the meeting.

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