Vivian Balakrishnan calls for greater trade and investment flows in visit to Pakistan
Singapore's Minister for Foreign Minister Dr Vivian Balakrishnan became the country's first leader to visit Pakistan in nearly 22 years as he made a one-day visit to the country on Friday (Oct 30).Speaking at a joint press conference with his Pakistan counterpart Ishaq Dar, who is also deputy prime minister, Dr Balakrishnan noted that former Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong was the last Singaporean leader to visit in 2004."So this is belated, but better late than never," he quipped, adding that leaders from both countries have been in constant communication.Dr Balakrishnan noted that Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has accepted Prime Minister Lawrence Wong's invitation to visit Singapore, injecting fresh impetus to the two countries' shared priorities in economic cooperation, disaster preparedness and response, and people-to-people ties.Elaborating on an area, which he said both sides are "working furiously to get the homework done", the Singapore minister said that greater trade and investment flows need to be facilitated amid excellent ties.