ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and Sri Lanka have agreed to continue close collaboration in multilateral fora and to strengthen regional cooperation.

The understanding came during a meeting among the Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi and Sri Lankan Minister of Trade Dr Bandula Gunawardhana and State Minister for Regional Cooperation Tharaka Balasuriya here on Monday.

On the occasion, the Foreign Minister underlined the need to capitalize on the immense goodwill that exists between Pakistan and Sri Lanka by expanding cooperation across diverse areas, including trade and investment, tourism, culture, education, defence, agriculture and human resource development.

The Foreign Minister said that all efforts must be made to enhance bilateral trade relations through optimal utilization of the Pakistan-Sri Lanka Free Trade Agreement. Shah Mahmood Qureshi noted that deepening economic cooperation through proactive economic diplomacy is a top priority for the Government in the context of its policy focus on geo-economics.

Reciprocating the sentiments, Dr Bandula Gunawardhana thanked the Government of Pakistan for warm hospitality and the goodwill towards Sri Lanka at all levels. He appreciated Pakistan’s consistent friendship and support for Sri Lanka and noted that his visit is aimed at further advancing mutually beneficial economic and trade relations.