By IRNA
Islamabad : Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf embarked on Sunday on an 8-day visit to four European nations that will take him to Belgium, France, Switzerland and the United Kingdom, the state-run television reported.
The President is accompanied by several members of the caretaker cabinet and senior officials, PTV reported.
Brussels is the first destination of Musharraf’s visit. The President would meet the European Union leaders including High Representative for the Common Foreign and Security Policy Javier Solana, according to the Foreign Ministry.
He will also address the European Parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee.
The President’s talks with EU leaders would cover the entire spectrum of bilateral relations with emphasis on exploring ways and means to further enhance cooperation in various fields including commercial, economic, trade and defence, a Foreign Ministry statement has said.
The EU is the largest trading partner with the overall annual volume of trade worth 9 billion dollars and also the largest foreign investor and development cooperation partner.
The President’s engagements in Brussels would also include talks with Belgian Prime Minister Guy Vehhofstadt aimed at promoting understanding and cooperation.
He will also address the Pakistani community, business leaders and a major Brussels-based think tank.
Pervez Musharraf will visit France on Monday and Tuesday next.
His programme would include talks with President Sarkozy besides addressing French business leaders, the Pakistani community and a major think tank.
According to the Foreign Ministry, the President will attend the annual meeting of the World Economic Forum on Jan 23-25 in Davos.
The theme of this year’s meeting is “The Power of Collaborative Innovation”.
The President will also meet a number of political and corporate leaders in Davos.
During his visit to the UK from Jan 26- 28, the President will meet Prime Minister Gordon Brown. He will also address the Pakistan community, business leaders and various think tanks.
The focus of the President’s engagements during his visit abroad would be bilateral relations but he will also exchange views on the issue of terrorism, the Foreign Office says.
There is no official announcement if the President would meet Indian Prime Minister in Davos.