Waqar Naseem Wamiq RIYADH — Saudi Arabia hosted a ministerial-level meeting with a seven- member delegation of Pakistan, led by the Minister for Defense Engr. Khurram Dastgir Khan at the Saudi Ministry of Commerce and Investment here on Monday. They discussed ways to further strengthen bilateral economic and trade relations between the two countries. The Saudi delegation was led by the Minister for Commerce and Investment Dr. Majid Bin Abdullah Al Qasabi. Pakistan Prime Minister had visited Saudi Arabia on Nov. 27 during which he called on Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King andCrown Prince Muhammad Bin Salman. During the visit, the leadership of the two countries agreed to initiate steps to further cement bilateral cooperation in all areas. The minister for defense conveyed the best wishes of the government and people of Pakistan to King Salman and Crown Prince Muhammad Bin Salman. Lauding Saudi Arabia’s visionary leadership, in particular Saudi Vision 2030, he prayed for continued success and prosperity of the Saudi leadership and the people. Thanking the Kingdom for hosting the largest Pakistani community in the region, he appreciated the measures taken by Saudi authorities for the welfare and wellbeing of Pakistani expatriates. Dr. Al-Qasabi reaffirmed the importance attached by Saudi Arabia to its relationship with Pakistan and acknowledged the contribution made by the people of Pakistan to the development of the Kingdom. The two ministers agreed to further strengthen their bilateral relationship rooted in shared culture and religion. During the meeting, the two delegations discussed ways and means to enhance and deepen bilateral cooperation, in particular in the fields of economy, trade, investment and human resource development. A number of projects in the fields of infrastructure and energy also came under discussion as well as the possibilities for investment in the two countries. They also deliberated on ways to benefit from each other’s expertise, especially in the sectors related to education, health, information technology and science.