Saudi counterpart calls on his FM Hina Rabbani Khar

ISLAMABAD: Deputy Foreign Minister of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Prince Abdul Aziz bin Abdullah held talks with Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar here on Tuesday.

They discussed the entire gamut of bilateral relations, as well as regional and international issues of mutual interest.

The Deputy Foreign Minister expressed happiness at visiting his second home. He thanked the Foreign Minister for extending him an invitation and stated that his visit would further strengthen and deepen the special relationship between the two countries.

He also said that Pakistan and Saudi Arabia enjoyed commonality of views on regional and international challenges and that his visit had afforded him an opportunity to discuss these, and how to address them.

Foreign Minister Hina Khar said that the two countries had agreed to chalk out a roadmap that would utilize all existing institutional mechanisms to further broaden the strategic partnership.

She emphasized that Pakistan was very keen on early finalization of a Pakistan-GCC Free Trade Agreement and that she was hopeful that the Kingdom would use its influence within the GCC to have this come through as soon as possible.

The Foreign Minister highlighted that the ties between the two countries were strong, time-tested, deep-rooted and, most importantly, supported by the peoples of the two countries.

She said that this relationship would become more robust with the exchange of high level visits. She also stated that His Royal Highness's visit reflected his personal commitment to the brotherly Pakistan-Saudi Arabia relationship. (APP)