Paksitani PM to start visit to four southeast Asian

Pakistani Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz will start a week-long visit to four southeast Asian countries Thursday to further improve the country's bilateral relations with them, Foreign Office spokesman Jalil Abbas Jilani said Monday.

Jilani told a weekly news briefing that Aziz will visit Malaysia, Brunei Darussalam, Thailand and Singapore from May 5 to 12. The visit is aimed at further developing bilateral ties with these countries, he added.

In Malaysia, Aziz will meet Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmed Badawi. The two sides will discuss regional and international issues of common interest.

Aziz's engagements in Malaysia include a keynote address to the Asian Leadership Institute and an address to Pakistan-Malaysia Business Forum.

In Brunei Derussalam, Aziz will call on Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah.

The two sides will exchange views on bilateral and other issues. Aziz will address a business forum there.

In Thailand, Aziz will call on King Bhumibhal Adulyadej and hold in-depth discussions with his counterpart Thaksin Shinwatra to further develop bilateral relations. Aziz will address a forum jointly organized by the Asian Institute for Technology and Thamarasat University. He will also address a gathering of the

Thai businessmen and will inaugurate the Thai-Pakistan Chamber of Commerce. In Singapore, Aziz's engagements include a meeting with Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and addresses to Singapore Press Club, Institute of South Asian Studies and Singapore Business Community.

During the official talks, the two sides will discuss a wide range of issues, including cooperation in the fields of economy, trade, investment, culture and defense. In addition, the two sides will exchange views on regional and international issues.

"The visit will give a fresh impetus to our bilateral relations with these important countries in southeast Asia. It will be an important step towards further consolidation of our strategic vision of 'East Asia' which envisages forging multidimensional relations with the East Asian economies," said the spokesman.