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CE terms 5-nation

tour very useful

ISLAMABAD: Chief Executive Gen. Pervez Musharraf on Tuesday described his week-long visit to Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, Brunei Dares-Salam and Thailand as "hectic but very useful," reflective of "a mutual desire to enhance cooperation."

In a statement issued on his return to Islamabad, he said, he had held useful talks with the leaders of the visited friendly countries "in an atmosphere of traditional eastern cordiality".

These talks, he stated, were "amiable and constructive, reflective of a mutual desire to enhance cooperation".

The chief executive said that the objective of his visit was "to reaffirm and reinvigorate our bilateral relations, and to brief the leaders on the current security environment in South Asia and the necessity of an early resolution of occupied Jammu and Kashmir dispute".

Gen. Musharraf said he also discussed with the leaders of these countries "ways and means to expand economic and trade cooperation".

The visit, he said, also provided the opportunity for useful interaction with the Pakistani community abroad and to apprise them of the significant progress we have achieved since last October in economic management and improving governance, and of our preparation for devolution of power to the elected representatives.

In Malaysia, the chief executive said, he had talks with Prime Minister Mahathir Mohammed on bilateral, political and economic issues. "We agreed to give an impetus to our commercial and economic relations through the Joint Ministerial Commission (JMC). A separate meeting was held with finance minister of Malaysia, Tun Din Zainuddin, who was apprised of the investment-friendly environment presently prevailing in Pakistan. I also had a meeting with the National Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Malaysia".

The Malaysian business community, he stated, had shown keen interest in investment, trade and joint venture opportunities in Pakistan.

"I am positive that a follow up of these meetings would have a good impact on our economic and commercial ties with Malaysia", he added.

In Singapore, Gen. Musharraf said, he held talks with Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong and also met President S.R. Nathan and senior minister Lee Kuan Yew. "I found the business community keen to learn about the prospects for joint ventures, investment, and trade enhancement between the two countries".

He said his visit to Indonesia provided an opportunity to establish contact with the new Indonesian leadership. "President Abdur Rehman Wahid and I agreed on strengthening bilateral relations with the emphasis on economic and commercial cooperation.

We agreed to revive the IPEC (Indonesia Pakistan Economic Cooperation), a forum which provides an institutional framework for trade and economic interaction. Two MOUs were signed during the visit on the establishment of a consultative forum between the ministries of foreign affairs of the two countries and an agreement for cooperation in the field of health and family planning".

The chief executive said, King Hassanal Bolkiah, Sultan of Brunei Darus Salam responded positively to the suggestions for increasing investment cooperation with Pakistan. To that end, the existing joint commission is expected to hold an early meeting.

He said the countries of South Asia have successfully emerged from the financial crisis they confronted in 1997. Through good planning and hard work, they are on the road to even greater progress and prosperity.

"Giving highest priority to the economy, they look forward as we do, to enhancing trade and investment ties with Pakistan", he said.

Commerce Minister Abdul Razak Dawood utilised the visit for interaction with the traders and investors. He will be in touch with Pakistani Chambers of Commerce and Industry to guide them to explore and expand profitable cooperation with the dynamic countries of South East Asia.

In Thailand, he said, he had fruitful discussions with Prime Minister Leekpai. "We agreed to pursue and implement the decisions of the Joint Economic Commission (JEC), for furthering our trade and economic links", the chief executive added.

Earlier on his departure from Bangkok, the chief executive was given a warm send off.

During the five-nation visit, the chief executive took along with him the bare minimum delegation and travelled by regular commercial flights.ÑAPP