ISLAMABAD, 6 November 2006 — Malaysian Prime Minister Abdullah Badawi said here yesterday that Islamic countries have the right to develop nuclear technology. He was addressing a joint press conference after holding talks with his Pakistani counterpart Shaukat Aziz.
Prime Minister Aziz said access to education, science and technology should not be made the monopoly on religious grounds.
The two prime ministers agreed to boost bilateral trade, commerce and investment relations.
Pakistan and Malaysia resolved to develop human resources, enhance educational and higher learnings standards within the framework of the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) to place the Islamic world in the comity of developed nations.
This was disclosed during the speeches of Aziz and Badawi at the state banquet which was given by Aziz here on Saturday evening.
In his speech of welcome, Aziz appreciated the industrial and commercial growth which Malaysia has achieved and said, “We in Pakistan are focusing more on education, development of science and technology to create a generation which can meet the challenges of the present competitive industrial world.”
He said it was Pakistan’s policy to enhance its bilateral trade, commerce and investment relationship with Malaysia and to learn a lot from that country about how it made rapid industrial and commercial strides.
He said in the framework of the OIC Pakistan and Malaysia jointly play a vital role for the collective progress and prosperity of the Ummah. In his somewhat philosophical speech Badawi said, “Our focus must be on human development, to elevate levels of appropriate advanced learnings and to move toward the right direction to achieve required goals which progressive nations aspire to achieve.”
He said his country was willing to play its due role within the framework of the OIC to forge multilateral arrangements for industrial and human development.
Earlier, when Badawi arrived at the Chaklala Air Base he was received by Aziz, Cabinet ministers and high ranking civil and military officials.
Badawi will be one of the key speakers at the three-day World Islamic Forum which Pakistan is hosting. Delegations from several OIC countries have arrived here Saturday to participate at the forum.
