PAKISTAN TO EXPLORE WIN-WIN PARTNERSHIP WITH MALAYSIA

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 16 (Bernama) -- Pakistan will continue to strengthen
linkages with Malaysia in various sectors to explore new collaborations to give
both countries a "win-win" partnership, says its newly appointed High
Commissioner to Malaysia Masood Khalid.

He said joint ventures, equity participation and public-private partnership
are among mechanisms that can be implemented in creating the linkage and
collaboration.

"We will also see in terms of learning from each other's experiences in
the information and communications technology field," he told reporters at the
Pakistan's 63rd Independence Day celebrations at the High Commission here.

Khalid said political relations should commensurate and correspond to
existing economic potentials that have not been exploited to the maximum.

"We need to really work on the political goodwill and give further momentum
to our bilateral ties. We need to strengthen our economic linkages.

"We have a comprehensive Free Trade Agreement (FTA) but our bilateral trade
is insignificant," he said.

He however said overall trade between Malaysia and Pakistan has increased
by 18.3 per cent in the first quarter of this year to RM1.93 billion (US$606
million) from RM1.61 billion (US$506 million) previously.

Malaysia's exports are worth RM1.73 billion (US$544 million) compared to
only RM251.19 million (US$78.9 million) by Pakistan.

Khalid said Pakistan can offer a lot of non-traditional export items such as
gems, fabrics, agro-based products, marbles and fruits.

He also said Malaysia has been supportive and helpful to Pakistan in
acquiring membership in the Asean Regional Forum and Asia Cooperation Dialogue.

"We expect Malaysia to complement and support our efforts to gain a full
dialogue partnership within Asean because we think this will be a mutually
beneficial proposition for Asean and Pakistan," he added.
-- BERNAMA