Pakistan National Assembly Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq, during a meeting with Sri Lankan envoy Jayanath Lokuketagodage yesterday, discussed forging a deeper relationship with Sri Lanka. 

Sardar Ayaz Sadiq called for a diversification of trade and economic relations to give substantive meanings to bilateral cooperation.

Ayaz told the High Commissioner of Sri Lanka he appreciated the fact that Pakistan-Sri Lanka relations were based on mutual interest and aspirations for a peaceful South Asian region.

He said Pakistan placed high value on its friendly relations with Sri Lanka in its quest to promote peace in the region and strengthen cooperation within the SAARC. He also reiterated Pakistan’s commitment to facilitate people-to-people contacts and enhance parliamentary engagement with Sri Lanka.

Lankan High Commissioner Jayanath Lokuketagodage said Sri Lanka too attached great value to its relations with Pakistan and would continue to partner with Pakistan in a diversification of trade and economic relations, especially as Sri Lanka shares Pakistan’s quest for equitable growth and sustainable development in South Asian region.