By NNN-APP,
Islamabad : Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani said the upcoming visit to the United States is very important and it will help further enhance the existing close ties between the two countries.
He was talking to US Ambassador, Ms. Anne W Patterson, who called on him here at the Prime Minister House Tuesday afternnon.
The Prime Minister said that Pakistan accords high priority to its strategic relationship with the US and is keen to further expand its relations in various fields.
Pakistan, he added, is also eager to enhance cooperation in the fields of education, health, energy, science and technology.
While appreciating Pakistan’s efforts in curtailing extremism and terrorism, the Ambassador said that US relations with Pakistan and its people are very important and expressed the US desire for developing a stable and multi-faceted relationship with Pakistan.
The Prime Minister said Pakistan is strongly committed to fighting terrorism which, he said, is clearly in Pakistan’s own interest.
He said Pakistan would never compromise with militants. It would however keep the doors of dialogue open for those who have laid down the arms and given up terrorism as an instrument of policy.
Pakistan has been steadfastly fighting terrorism and has sacrificed and suffered a great deal including the assassination of Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto at the hands of terrorists, he added.
Ambassador Ms. Anne Patterson said the US is committed to extending all possible support to the broad-based elected coalition government of Pakistan and help it in overcoming the challenges posed by the rise in oil and food prices.
Mehmood Ali Durrani, National Security Advisor also attended the meeting.