Foreign Secretary meets Pakistan’s National Security and Foreign Affairs Adviser
Adviser Sartaj Aziz and Foreign Secretary William Hague met today to further the strategic relations between Pakistan and the UK, which underpins the enduring partnership between both countries.
Foreign Secretary and Sartaj Aziz, adviser to Pakistani Prime Minister on National Security and Foreign Affairs
They reviewed progress on bilateral commitments and discussed future plans to develop a deeper dialogue between the two countries, strengthening friendship and promoting mutual interests. The dialogue represents a long-term commitment by both countries to work together for greater security and prosperity.
Adviser Sartaj Aziz and Foreign Secretary William Hague discussed priority areas of the bilateral relationship including; renewing commitment to increase bilateral trade to £3 billion by 2015; promoting investments; enhancing Pakistan’s EU trade access recently secured with significant UK support; the UK’s commitment to stand alongside Pakistan to tackle militancy, terrorism and extremism while acknowledging the huge sacrifices the Pakistani nation has made. They also welcomed the positive contribution made by the British Pakistani community to further strengthen the relationship between the two countries. The two sides agreed to review the whole spectrum of the Enhanced Strategic Dialogue during Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s forthcoming visit to the UK.
After the meeting the Foreign Secretary William Hague said:
Pakistan and the UK share longstanding ties. I was pleased to have this opportunity to discuss plans to reframe the Enhanced Strategic Dialogue into a deeper and more focused agreement between our two countries, which strengthens our partnership and promotes our mutual interests.
This dialogue represents a continuing, long-term commitment by both countries to work together to create the conditions necessary for greater security and prosperity.
Adviser Sartaj Aziz said:
I was delighted to hold substantive discussions with Foreign Secretary William Hague and other key British cabinet members on the progress of bilateral cooperation in areas of common interest.
I emphasized the importance of greater international recognition of Pakistan’s security concerns. We agreed to intensify efforts to achieve meaningful and mutually beneficial progress in a holistic manner under the framework of the Enhanced Strategic Dialogue.
The UK remains, as Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has said, one of Pakistan’s closest allies and the leading development partner.
The Enhanced Strategic Dialogue was signed in 2011 and sets out the UK and Pakistan’s strategic partnership in 5 areas: trade and business relations; financial, macro-economic stabilization and development cooperation; Education and health; consultations on defence and security; and cultural cooperation.
Further information
Follow the Foreign Secretary on facebook and on twitter: @WilliamJHague
Follow the Foreign Office on twitter @foreignoffice