President Asif Ali Zardari on Thursday said Pakistan looked forward to Belgium’s support in getting Pakistan’s access to the European market.
In a meeting with Belgian Prime Minister Herman Van Rompuy at his simple official residence in the middle of the city, President Zardari said Belgium could play an important role in developing Pakistan’s relations with European Union.
The President informed the Belgian Prime Minister that at present, twenty percent of Pakistan’s trade volume was with the European countries which could be expanded with full access to the EU market.
Zardari said Pakistan and Belgium had commonalities of views on different issues and added that Pakistan was keen to further these relations at economic and political levels.
He also apprised the Belgian Prime Minister on Pakistan’s role in restoring peace in the region and about its ongoing war against terrorists in the country’s north west province.
Prime Minister Herman Van appreciated Pakistan’s resolve to fight militancy and said it was the responsibility of the international community to take care of the persons dislocated due to army operation in Swat.
President informed the Belgian prime minister about Pakistan’s efforts to improve relations with India with an aim to restart the stalled peace process through composite dialogue.
The two sides agreed on maintaining closer relation and exchanging ideas on major issues of bilateral and multilateral importance.
They said the two countries could consult each other and share common goals of peace and prosperity.
Prime Minister Herman Van said Pakistani community in Belgium was playing an important role in positively contributing towards the economy.
The two sides also discussed major issues of international importance.