Finance minister, US ambassador discuss bilateral economic ties

ISLAMABAD: Finance Minister Asad Umar and US Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asia Ambassador Alice G Wells on Tuesday discussed the current state of Pakistan and US relations with focus on economic cooperation.

The ambassador had called on the minister in Islamabad. The overall security situation in the region also came under discussion.

The finance minister said that such visits contributed to enhancing understanding of each other’s point of view on issues of bilateral significance.

He shared with Wells the vision of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government to bring about changes in the economic landscape of the country.

Read More: US looking forward to work alongside new Pakistani govt: Alice Wells

Alice Wells apprised the minister of the US efforts for regional security and emphasised the importance of bilateral and multilateral cooperation in that regard.

Matters related to international cooperation to curb terror financing also came under discussion. Asad Umar said that Pakistan had made huge strides against terrorism in the recent years and it would continue to take all possible steps to root out terror financing and money laundering.

Earlier in an interview to a British media outlet, Alice Wells shared that the US was looking forward to work closely with the new Pakistani government.

She laid stress upon the fact that Pakistan was an important country in the region and it has a critical role to play.

The ambassador reiterated that the US administration wanted to forge constructive and positive relation with the South Asian giant.

Recounting the visit of US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo to Pakistan after Premier Imran Khan assumed the responsibility of a chief executive of the state, she said that the talks between two sides were encouraging.