Pakistan-Mexico to strengthen trade Ties
Pakistan Times Business & Commerce Desk

ISLAMABAD: The first meeting of the Pakistan- Mexico Joint Commission between Pakistan and Mexico will be held on October 10 in Mexico city as part of ongoing measures to further strengthen political, cultural and trade ties between the two countries.

The Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Makhdum Khusro Bakhtyar led the Pakistan delegation, in the first meeting of the “Consultation Mechanism on Matters of Common Interest” in Mexico City on May 26, a Foreign Office press release Monday said.

The Sub secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Mexico, Ms Maria Lourdes Aranda Bezuary led the Mexican delegation.

The meeting marked the operationalization of the first ever institutional mechanism, and being termed as a landmark event between the two countries.

The foundation of Consultation Mechanism was laid during the historic visit of President General Pervez Musharraf to Mexico City on 2-3 December 2004.

The two sides discussed bilateral relations as well as regional and international issues, and there was an agreement on the need to further strengthen political, trade, cultural and educational relations between the two countries.

The Mexican side explained the status of the opening of the Mexican Embassy in Islamabad. The Minister of State recalled that the Mexican leadership had undertaken to establish Mexico’s Embassy in Islamabad by the end of 2005.

He hoped that this would be done soon as it would boost bilateral trade relations with Pakistan since businessmen were facing difficulties in acquiring visa for travel to Mexico.

The Minister of State proposed that the scope of the Visa Suppression Agreement should be extended to include holders of official passports and that multiple entry visas should be granted to genuine businessmen of the two countries.

He explained that Pakistan was already endorsing five year multiple visas on the passports of Mexican businessmen. The Mexican side agreed to look into the proposal.

The two sides underlined the importance of enhancing cooperation in the fields of education, and culture. The Minister of State promised to expedite the process of examination of the draft agreement proposed by Mexico on “educational and cultural cooperation” between the two countries.

The next meeting of the Pakistan-Mexico consultation Mechanism will be held in Pakistan next year. Pakistan attaches importance to its relations with Mexico.

The two countries have broad convergence on international issues arid work closely in international fora especially on the question of the expansion of the membership of the Security Council.

Pakistan-Mexico relations are expanding in diverse areas;to strengthen relationship between the two countries. The first meeting of the Consultation Mechanism has given impetus to the priority areas, which would foster closer relations between the two countries.●