Adviser to the Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs, Sartaj Aziz, on Saturday, felicitated President Donald Trump on assuming his office and reaffirmed Pakistan's keenness to work closely with the new US administration in pursuit of common ideals of freedom, democracy, peace and prosperity.

"The people and leadership of Pakistan welcome the successful transition in the United States and felicitate Donald Trump on assuming the office as the 45th President of the United States," the adviser said in response to the media queries regarding Pakistan-US relations under the new administration of President Donald Trump.

Recalling the recent warm and cordial exchange that Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif had with Trump, Aziz reaffirmed Pakistan's keenness to work closely with the new administration in pursuit of common ideals of freedom, democracy, peace and prosperity.

He said that Pakistan and the US are close partners with a long history of co-operation covering variety of fields, including counterterrorism and security, trade and investment, energy, defence and strategic issues, and education, among others.

The US is also home to a sizable and vibrant Pakistanis who act as an important bridge between the two countries, he said, adding Pakistan looks forward to maintaining the momentum in the high-level exchanges and building on the convergences to take the relationship to a new and higher level," he added.

Aziz emphasised that Pakistan firmly believes that given the imperatives of peace, stability and security in the wider region, continued close co-operation between Pakistan and the US is important to successfully deal with the challenges facing the region and beyond as well as to avail the economic opportunities that this resource rich region offers.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2017