By KUNA,
Islamabad : Pakistani Prime Minister Syed Yousaf Raaza Gilani embarked Saturday on a four-day visit to the US, amid growing anxiety in Islamabad of possible American attacks on the bordering tribal region and repeated calls by US officials to do more to end violence in the neighboring war-ravaged Afghanistan.
According to the official press releases, during his stay from July 27-30, Gilani will meet President George W. Bush on July 28, who will also host a luncheon in his honour.
The two leaders will have a wide ranging exchange of views on bilateral matters, regional and international issues of common interest, it said.
He is also scheduled to have meetings with senior members of the Bush Administration, including Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, Secretary of Defense Robert Gates, and Secretary of the Treasury Henry Paulson, said the statement.
It added that the prime minister was also expected to meet with Senator John McCain and Senator Barack Obama, the presidential nominees.
The focus of the visit, said the statement, would be on promoting a new partnership between the two countries on peace and prosperity. “The prime minister’s visit is expected to deepen mutual understanding and further strengthen mutually-beneficial cooperation in the areas of common interest.” Pakistan and the US have had traditionally strong defense and security cooperation.
“We are committed to developing a broad-based and long-term relationship based on common values and characterized by greater collaboration in the fields of trade and economic cooperation, social sector development, and people-to-people contacts,” it said.
In 2004, Pakistan was designated as a major non-NATO ally of the US. During President Bush’s visit to Pakistan in March 2006, the two countries affirmed “strategic partnership.” This would be the prime minister’s first visit to the US since assuming office in March 2008.