President Zardari meets Australian PM in Chicago

LONDON: President Asif Ali Zardari Sunday met Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard on the sidelines of a key Nato summit underway in Chicago, Geo News reported.

According to sources, both leaders exchanged views on various bilateral issues.

President Zardari during the meeting focused on the prospects of increasing mutual trade and cooperation between Pakistan and Australia,the sources added.

Earlier, in Lahore, Australian High Commission to Pakistan, Tim George had said, that there is wide scope for cooperation between Pakistan and Australia in agriculture, education and health sectors and there have been tremendous achievement of close cooperation in these sectors.

He said many Australian firms are engaged with Pakistani counterparts in agriculture sector to improve different crops and enhance dairy development. He said there is also scope for joint ventures in different fields in agriculture sector.

He said Pakistan and Australia have been cooperating in different fields adding that Australia is fifth largest contributor to Pakistan. He said the major areas of cooperation are education, health, agriculture, good governance, humanitarian assistance and capacity building.

George especially mentioned the establishment of high-level Pakistan-Australia Joint Working Group on border management and transnational crime in 2010 which meeting annually.

The High Commissioner said under the strategic dialogue between the two countries, a comprehensive training programme for security officials is also under progress. He appreciated the legal migration to Australia and added that a large number of Pakistanis is getting education at a number of Australian universities.

He said he was privileged to serve as High Commissioner during a period of strong growth in Australia’s relationship with Pakistan. Tim said, “I particularly welcome the deepening of our engagements, which is based on a productive, friendly and mutually beneficial partnership.”