- PM Imran is accompanied by a high-level delegation, together with members of the Cupboard and senior officers
- PM Mahinda Rajapaksa thanks PM Imran for Pakistan’s cooperation within the subject of sports activities
- The premier says his first go to to the nation was when “I was starting my cricket career”
COLOMBO/ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Imran Khan and his Sri Lankan counterpart, Mahinda Rajapaksa, on Tuesday held a one-on-one assembly and mentioned problems with bilateral and regional significance.
In a joint press convention along with his Sri Lankan counterpart, PM Imran Khan spoke about his first go to to the nation, saying it was when “I was starting my cricket career”.
The premier underscored that Pakistan and Sri Lanka had been dealing with points equivalent to terrorism. “Pakistan has been the victim of the worst terrorism for ten years, sacrificing 70,000 lives” over the previous decade,” he stated.
PM Imran Khan invited Sri Lanka to promote its economic and regional ties through Pakistan. “By way of the CPEC [China–Pakistan Economic Corridor], financial ties may be prolonged to Central Asia and Sri Lanka,” he said.
Pakistan is an “essential element” of the CPEC, which he said would “open new avenues for the event of regional ties”.
PM Mahinda Rajapaksa thanked the premier for Pakistan’s cooperation within the subject of sports activities.
The 2 leaders additionally affirmed the resolve to strengthen relations in various areas within the assembly held at Temple Timber — the Sri Lankan prime minister’s workplace — and centered on strengthening ties in areas of commerce and funding, well being and training, agriculture, science and know-how, safety, tradition and tourism.
Earlier within the afternoon, PM Rajapaksa obtained PM Imran Khan on the latter’s arrival right here on the Bandaranaike Worldwide Airport, the place he was additionally given a guard of honour upon his arrival.
Learn extra: Overseas Workplace confirms PM Imran Khan’s Sri Lanka journey amid hypothesis
The Pakistani premier is the primary head of state to go to Sri Lanka after President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and PM Rajapaksa assumed workplace final yr, indicating the significance each international locations connect to their essential relationship.
PM Imran Khan is endeavor the two-day official go to to the island nation on the invitation of his Sri Lankan counterpart. He’s accompanied by a high-level delegation, together with members of the Cupboard and senior officers.
He was anticipated to additionally take part in a joint ‘Trade and Investment Conference’ geared toward selling commerce and funding between the 2 international locations.
Quite a few memoranda of understanding (MoUs) to reinforce bilateral cooperation could be signed through the go to.