ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Imran Khan on Wednesday paid his heartfelt gratitude to his Sri Lankan counterpart Mahinda Rajapaksa for the gracious hospitality and warm welcome .
Calling the island nation a "special friend and partner" at the end of his two-day official visit, the prime minister agreed that the cooperative ties between the two nations are poised to grow and strengthen.
"Thank you Prime Minister @PresRajapaksa and the people of Sri Lanka for a warm welcome and gracious hospitality," he said, adding that Sri Lanka is a special friend and strong partner of Pakistan.
Meanwhile, in a Joint Communiqué, issued in Colombo, on the conclusion of Prime Minister Imran Khan's visit to Sri Lanka, the two countries reaffirmed their commitment to regional peace, security, and stability.
Both sides reiterated their commitment to the principles and objectives of the SAARC Charter and stressed the need for SAARC member countries to build on convergence, for the greater good of the people in the region.
Stressing the need for peaceful resolution of outstanding disputes through constructive dialogue in accordance with international legitimacy, PM Imran highlighted the opportunities presented by China-Pakistan Economic Corridor for regional economic growth and prosperity and invited Sri Lanka to join it.
The two sides also reached a broad consensus on ways and means to further strengthen cooperation in diverse fields.
In a major development, the Pakistan side announced 100 scholarships in the field of medicine (MBBS and BDS) for the Sri Lankan students.
They also agreed to enhance cooperation in tourism and share expertise in the hospitality industry.
They expressed satisfaction over the existing bilateral cooperation in the field of defence and noted that the elevation of staff-level talks to Defence Dialogue has further provided an opportunity to expand security sector ties.
During the visit, five Memorandums of Understanding were signed between the two countries.
PM Imran Khan also extended an invitation to the President and the Prime Minister of Sri Lanka to visit Pakistan.
Weather in the metropolis will remain cloudy as the westerly winds have left Sindh
Iranian envoy says they will free the Pakistanis after confirming their nationalities due to brotherly ties
UK High Court rules Raja's statements were seriously defamatory of Brigadier Rashid Naseer
During their stay in Pakistan, Saudi delegation is expected to hold meetings with top civil and military leadership
PPP chief also urges politicians to stay in their Constitutional ambit
Ship COO Muhammad Adnan Aziz's family seeks govt's help to ensure his recovery
