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118765
Mon, 04/26/2010 - 13:25
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http://m.oananews.org//node/118765
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Pakistani PM to attend SAARC summit
Islamabad, April 26, IRNA - Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani is to represent Pakistan in two-day regional summit in Bhutan on April 28-29, the Foreign Ministry has said.
Gilani would be leaving on Monday for Thimphu, Bhutan, to join regional leaders in the 16th summit of South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC), said a Ministry spokesman.
Heads of State and Government of Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka would be attending the Summit.
Representatives from the Observer States would also be participating in the Summit.
Iran, China, Japan, South Korea, Mauritius, Myanmar, Australia, United States, and European Union are currently observer states of the SAARC.
The Prime Minister is to hold bilateral meetings with his counterparts as well as representatives of the observer states, the spokesman added.
Pakistan has proposed a meeting between Prime Minister Gilani and his Indian counterpart Dr Manmohan Singh on the sidelines of the summit and a response from India is still awaited, sources in the Foreign Ministry said.
“During the Summit, the prime minister will highlight important issues like matters relating to poverty alleviation, energy cooperation, water conservation, interaction in agriculture and rural development, cooperation on promotion of welfare of women and children and development of better health facilities for the peoples of South Asia,” said the spokesman.
The Pakistani prime minister would also urge upon the participating heads of state or government to ensure region-wide food security.
The Summit is to adopt a Declaration titled “Towards a Green and Happy South Asia”, which would focus on problems relating to environment and climate change.
A Ministerial Statement on Climate Change is also expected to be issued. During the Summit, the Secretariat of SAARC Development Fund would be inaugurated.
Pakistan supported the SAARC Social Charter and the prime minister would urge upon the member states to pursue social policies and strategies to ensure overall balanced social development, said the spokesman./end
Gilani would be leaving on Monday for Thimphu, Bhutan, to join regional leaders in the 16th summit of South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC), said a Ministry spokesman.
Heads of State and Government of Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka would be attending the Summit.
Representatives from the Observer States would also be participating in the Summit.
Iran, China, Japan, South Korea, Mauritius, Myanmar, Australia, United States, and European Union are currently observer states of the SAARC.
The Prime Minister is to hold bilateral meetings with his counterparts as well as representatives of the observer states, the spokesman added.
Pakistan has proposed a meeting between Prime Minister Gilani and his Indian counterpart Dr Manmohan Singh on the sidelines of the summit and a response from India is still awaited, sources in the Foreign Ministry said.
“During the Summit, the prime minister will highlight important issues like matters relating to poverty alleviation, energy cooperation, water conservation, interaction in agriculture and rural development, cooperation on promotion of welfare of women and children and development of better health facilities for the peoples of South Asia,” said the spokesman.
The Pakistani prime minister would also urge upon the participating heads of state or government to ensure region-wide food security.
The Summit is to adopt a Declaration titled “Towards a Green and Happy South Asia”, which would focus on problems relating to environment and climate change.
A Ministerial Statement on Climate Change is also expected to be issued. During the Summit, the Secretariat of SAARC Development Fund would be inaugurated.
Pakistan supported the SAARC Social Charter and the prime minister would urge upon the member states to pursue social policies and strategies to ensure overall balanced social development, said the spokesman./end
