RIYADH, 13 December 2006 — Crown Prince Sultan, deputy premier and minister of defense and aviation, yesterday held talks with Pakistani Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz and commended the “fruitful cooperation” between the two countries. Sultan also said that Saudi Arabia and Pakistan held identical views on major international issues.
“We’ll never forget Pakistan’s cooperation with the Kingdom and we wish the Islamic country and its people every progress and stability,” Sultan said while welcoming the premier and his delegation, which arrived here earlier in the day on a four-day business visit to the Kingdom.
“We are proud of our cooperation with Saudi Arabia,” Aziz said.
He emphasized Pakistan’s efforts to promote world peace. “However, we believe that peace will be achieved through power, not through weakness,” he said referring to Pakistan’s efforts to strengthen its defense capabilities.
Pakistan’s nuclear and missile development programs were not meant for threatening anybody, Aziz said and praised Pakistani scientists for developing long-range missiles.
The talks were attended by Interior Minister Prince Naif and top Saudi officials.
Aziz is scheduled to meet with Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah today.
Earlier on arrival at the airport, the premier was received by Social Affairs Minister Abdul Mohsen Al-Akkas, Saudi Ambassador in Islamabad Ali Al-Aseeri, Pakistani Ambassador Shahid Karimullah and senior officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Also yesterday, Aziz met with Prince Alwaleed ibn Talal, chairman of the Kingdom Holding Company. According to Muhammed Jameel, press officer of the Pakistan Embassy, the meeting focused mainly on trade and investments. “There were cordial discussions between the two since Prince Alwaleed is an old friend of our premier,” he said.
In the evening, the premier met members of his community at a meeting hosted by Ambassador Karimullah at the auditorium of the embassy.
Besides the meeting with the king today, Aziz is also scheduled to hold discussions with Finance Minister Ibrahim Al-Assaf.
The visit is a follow-up to the visit of King Abdullah early this year and the subsequent visit of Crown Prince Sultan to Islamabad.
Speaking to Arab News, Aseeri said the visit reflects the desire of the two countries to strengthen “their excellent bilateral ties.”
He said the visit was designed to focus on enhancing economic and trade ties between the two countries. “We want the businessmen of the two countries meet for a fruitful dialogue,” he said.
The premier is scheduled to meet the Saudi businessmen at the Jeddah Chamber of Commerce and Industry (JCCI) on Thursday. He will also visit Makkah and Madinah.
