Government to establish full diplomatic relations with South Sudan: Prime Minister

Islamabad:  July 3, 2012

Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf has said that Pakistan is keen to enhance its relations with South Sudan both at bilateral as well as multilateral levels to advance common goals of peace, security and socio-economic development.

The Prime Minister expressed these views while talking to Mr. Nhial Deng Nhial, Foreign Minister of South Sudan, who called on him at the PM House today. Both leaders discussed various facets of relations between the two countries.

The Prime Minister said that volume of bilateral trade between the two countries needed to be enhanced. There was immense potential for the private sectors of both countries to explore possibilities of expanding trade in commodities such as rice, textile, pharmaceutical products, agriculture, cement and food items, he added.

The Prime Minister said that Pakistan supported all relevant resolutions and statements of the UNSC on the situation in Sudan and South Sudan and sought an urgent advancement on the resolution of all outstanding issues under Comprehensive Peace Agreement of 2005.

The Prime Minister said that the government of Pakistan had decided to establish full diplomatic relations with South Sudan. He said that Pakistan was ready to extend all possible assistance and expertise to South Sudan.

The South Sudanese Foreign Minister said that he had come to Pakistan to explore areas of bilateral cooperation between Pakistan and South Sudan. He said that his country adhered to the policy of seeking peaceful resolution of all outstanding issues between South Sudan and (North) Sudan.

The Minister said that Pakistan, being a non-permanent member of UNSC, was an important country and wielded considerable influence within the UN system.
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