Britain and Pakistan to boost trade, security ties

Record ID: 77603

  • Title: Britain and Pakistan to boost trade, security ties
  • Date: 24th November 2016
  • Summary: ISLAMABAD, PAKISTAN (NOVEMBER 24, 2016) (REUTERS) ***WARNING CONTAINS FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY*** VARIOUS OF TRAFFIC MOVING ON ROAD LEADING TO FOREIGN OFFICE SECURITY GUARDS STANDING AT GATE OF PAKISTAN'S MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS SIGN READING (English) "MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS" WIDE OF PAKISTAN'S MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS OFFICE UK FOREIGN SECRETARY BORIS JOHNSON AND PAKISTANI FOREIGN POLICY CHIEF SARTAJ AZIZ ARRIVING FOR JOINT NEWS CONFERENCE JOHNSON AND AZIZ STANDING FOR NEWS CONFERENCE (SOUNDBITE) (English) UK FOREIGN SECRETARY, BORIS JOHNSON, SAYING: "It's vital that we work together to promote the security of the entire region, not least because of the huge commercial, the huge economic benefits that can flow from that success. And I think it's vital of course that we encourage further trade and commercial economic inter-penetration." AZIZ LISTENING (SOUNDBITE) (English) UK FOREIGN SECRETARY, BORIS JOHNSON, SAYING: "I do think there is a big opportunity here. Consider the size of the Pakistan economy, how fast it's growing, look at the size of the UK economy, we could do so much better than two and a half billion pounds a year of bilateral trade, I am sure you will agree. And we will do better." REPORTERS LISTENING UK FOREIGN SECRETARY, BORIS JOHNSON, SAYING: "We need a strong NATO alliance, and I think that the (U.S.) president-elect is quite right to draw attention to the need to finance that alliance properly." JOHNSON AND AZIZ LEAVING
  • Embargoed: 9th December 2016 13:12
  • Keywords: Islamabad Pakistan Boris Johnson Sartaj Aziz security business
  • Location: ISLAMABAD , PAKISTAN
  • City: ISLAMABAD , PAKISTAN
  • Country: Pakistan
  • Topics: Diplomacy/Foreign Policy,Government/Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVA00159SZ0AV
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text:EDITORS PLEASE NOTE: THIS EDIT CONTAINS MATERIAL WHICH WAS ORIGINALLY SHOT IN 4:3
    The UK is in talks to boost trade and security cooperation with Pakistan, Foreign Minister Boris Johnson said on Thursday (November 24), as part of London's efforts to improve trade links with emerging market countries.
    Britain has been seeking to bolster global trade ties following its June referendum vote to leave the European Union, with the government seeking to broaden relations with fast-growing economies outside Europe.
    On his visit to Pakistan, Johnson said talks were progressing on plans to increase annual trade beyond 2.5 billion pounds ($3.11 billion) per year.
    The two countries have had strong cultural ties since Pakistan gained independence from Britain in 1947, with more than 1 million people of Pakistani origin currently residing in Britain.
    Pakistan's spluttering economy has rebounded in recent years, helped by improved security in the country, and growth is expected at just over 5 percent this fiscal year, the highest rate since 2008.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2016. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
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