Malaysia will support Pakistan's request for a full dialogue partnership in the Association of South East Asian Nations (Asean). This assurance was given by Malaysian Foreign Minister Dato Sri' Hanifah Haji Aman on the request made by Foreign Minister of Pakistan Makhdoom Shah Mahmood Qureshi during a bilateral meeting at the end of 12th Session of D-8 Council of Ministers' held in here on Monday.
During the meeting, the Foreign Minister of Pakistan said that both the countries should capitalise on the existing fraternal relations between the two countries and should move forward to translate this goodwill into meaningful cooperation in economic, trade and investment relations. The Foreign Minister of Pakistan also took up the matter of Pakistani work-force export to Malaysia and offered the services of Pakistani doctors to overcome the shortage faced by Malaysia.
The Malaysian Foreign Minister said that Malaysia is currently facing shortage of 14,000 doctors and would certainly welcome Pakistani doctors to Malaysia. The Foreign Minister was told that Oversees Foundation of Pakistan has already advertised the vacancies of doctors in Pakistan on behalf of the Malaysian government.
Qureshi also invited his counterpart to visit Pakistan to attend the Pak Malaysia Joint Ministerial Conference for forging meaningful cooperation between two countries in various sectors. Malaysian Foreign Minister while accepting the invitation said that during his stay in Pakistan both the countries will also sign the agreement for visa abolition for official and diplomatic passport holders.
FM Qureshi also invited the Malaysian business delegation in the Public Private Partnership Conference being organised by Pakistan and UAE in January 2010 in Dubai wherein the Friends of Democratic Pakistan investors have been invited for match making with the public and private sectors of Pakistan. The Malaysian Foreign Minister assured Malaysian participation in the conference for establishing networking between Pakistani and Malaysian public and private sectors.
FM Qureshi informed his Malaysian counterpart that he is accompanied by a group of businessmen in the Halal Industry who are holding meetings with various Malaysian Government Agencies and private sector dealing in Halal food and meat industry.
He said that Pakistan offers very attractive opportunities for joint ventures in Halal sectors with Malaysia. The Foreign Minister of Malaysia said that they are closely co-ordinating the visit of the Pakistan delegation with the Malaysian Public and Private sector organisations.
Qureshi said that he himself will be meeting with Malaysia Minister for Agriculture and Minister for International Trade and Investment (MITI) to discuss ways and means to promote cooperation and forging joint ventures in Halal Food Sector. The Malaysian Foreign Minister also identified energy sector as an area for meaningful cooperation between Pakistan and Malaysia.
Qureshi while welcoming the proposal said that there is huge potential in Pakistan to explore hydel, wind and coal energy and invited the Malaysian companies to help Pakistan to realise the full potential of these opportunities. The Malaysia Foreign Minister reassured his Pakistani counterpart that they will examine Pakistani proposal with the concerned Malaysian stakeholders. The two foreign ministers also discussed cultural relations between the peoples of two countries.