President Alvi highlights importance of CPEC, Gwadar Port for regional connectivity

Islamabad: President Dr Arif Alvi has highlighted the importance of China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) and Gwadar Port for regional connectivity.

In a meeting with the Commander of the Sri Lankan Navy, Vice Admiral Nishantha Ulugetenne, who called on him here, the President underlined that CPEC and Gwadar Port will connect the whole region.

These two – the CPEC and the Gwadar Port – he mentioned will “promote regional connectivity as well as enhance trade and economic cooperation between Pakistan and Central Asian States, besides bringing economic prosperity to the region.”

The President, according to an official statement, said that Pakistan highly valued its relations with Sri Lanka and wanted to further improve bilateral cooperation with Sri Lanka in all areas of mutual interests.

He emphasized the need for increasing cooperation in the areas of tourism, culture, and defence between the two countries.

Welcoming the Commander of the Sri Lankan Navy, the president stated that Pakistan and Sri Lanka enjoyed excellent relations, which needed to be further strengthened for the advantages of the two countries.

He observed that both countries had great potential to promote cultural cooperation and religious tourism as Pakistan had many Buddhist sites and Buddhists monks from Sri Lanka needed to be encouraged to visit the religious sites.

Vice Admiral Nishantha Ulugetenne thanked the Government of Pakistan for supporting Sri Lanka during difficult times. He also appreciated the action taken by the government against the accused involved in the gruesome murder of Sri Lankan national. He underlined the need for further increasing bilateral cooperation between the two countries.