Obama To Meet Pakistani PM On October 23

Islamabad, Sept 27, IRNA -- US President Barrack Obama will meet Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif at the White House on October 23, the Foreign Ministry said Friday. The US Secretary of State John Kerry called on the Prime Minister in New York on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly and extended the invitation. This high-level interaction, Secretary Kerry stressed, Would provide the necessary impetus to move towards a long-term Pakistan-US engagement. The Prime Minister was pleased to accept the invitation, a statement said. Matters of mutual interest including regional stability and situation in Afghanistan were also discussed during the meeting. The two sides reviewed the state of bilateral relationship and agreed to intensify the engagements in the coming weeks and months to further expand and deepen bilateral cooperation in all areas. It was also agreed to convene meetings of the various Working Groups under the revived Strategic Dialogue mechanism. During the meeting, the Prime Minister noted that the improvement in security, revival of economy and overcoming the energy crisis were the key priorities of his government. The Prime Minister also emphasized that greater trade between Pakistan and the US would contribute to the economic prosperity of the people of Pakistan and help in evolving a mutually beneficial relationship between the two countries./end