He said the project would turn into a symbol of growing Pakistan-Chile relations and open up new vistas for bilateral co-operation. He stated this while talking to Foreign Secretary Salman Bashir. The Chilean Foreign Secretary, who is currently on a visit to Pakistan, met with Foreign Secretary Salman Bashir and discussed issues of mutual interest.
The Ambassador of Chile to Pakistan, Luis Palma (resident in Tehran) was also present. The Chilean Foreign Secretary, articulating the key elements of Chile's foreign relations, stated that his country attached great importance to upgrading its bilateral relations with Pakistan in all walks of life. There was tremendous potential existed between the two countries to promote commercial and economic relations, he added.
Foreign Secretary Salman Bashir reiterated Pakistan's desire to augment its relations with Chile underlining that Pakistan offered great investment opportunities and that the two countries should examine possibilities in multiple areas including economic, commercial, cultural, science and technology and people-to-people contacts. The Foreign Secretary expressed satisfaction at the level of bilateral co-operation at different multilateral forums.
The two sides agreed to look into the possibility of entering into a free trade agreement, which would accrue mutual benefits. They also agreed to work towards instituting bilateral annual political consultations between the Foreign Ministries of the two countries. Foreign Secretary Bashir raised the issue of a Pakistan national, Saifur Rehman, who was still in the custody of Chilean authorities on account of alleged possession of traces of explosives.
The Chilean Foreign Secretary expressed the hope that they would be able to reopen their resident diplomatic Mission in Islamabad, which was closed down in 1989, as soon as possible. The two sides agreed to expedite the matter of a visa abolition agreement for diplomatic passports of the two countries. Foreign Secretary Bashir gave a detailed briefing on the regional situation and how Pakistan was earnestly engaged in promoting peace and stability in South Asia.