Pakistani President Zardari to visit Iran

Islamabad, March 8, IRNA -- President Asif Ali Zardari will visit Iran on March 10-11, the Foreign Ministry has said.

The bilateral visit to Tehran will be followed by President’s participation in the Tenth Summit of the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO), the ministry said in a statement.

During his stay in Tehran, the President would meet with the top leadership of Iran, it said.

“The entire spectrum of bilateral relations would be reviewed with the President of Iran and measures considered to further intensify mutually beneficial cooperation in all areas of common interest.”

They would also discuss regional matters with a view to strengthening a common approach towards pressing regional issues, the statement said.

The President is also expected to have bilateral interaction with other leaders attending the ECO Summit.

"The President’s participation in the ECO Summit underscores the high importance that Pakistan attaches to regional cooperation as well as ECO."

As a founding member of ECO, Pakistan has been playing a leading role in steering the Organization towards deeper economic integration and advancing the goals of regional cooperation for greater progress and prosperity of the region.

In this context, Pakistan has been emphasizing the central importance of trade promotion, energy cooperation, and trans-regional development cooperation.

ECO consists of 10 members including Iran, Turkey, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan.

Foreign Minister Makhdoom Shah Mahmood Qureshi has proceeded to Tehran for bilateral consultations and participation in the ECO Ministerial./end