Socialist Republic of Vietnam

Ha Noi, May 5 (VNA) -- Chief Executive of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan Gen. Pervez Musharraf concluded a three-day official friendship visit to Viet Nam on May 5.

The visit was made at the invitation of Prime Minister Phan Van Khai.

While in Viet Nam, Gen. Musharraf paid a courtesy visit to President Tran Duc Luong, held talks with PM Khai, paid floral tributes to President Ho Chi Minh at his Mausoleum and visited the late President's residence and office in Ha Noi.

Also in Ha Noi, the Pakistani leader laid a wreath at the Monument to Fallen Soldiers, called at the Temple of Literature, the Museum of Ethnology and the Daewoo Hanel Electronics Company in the Sai Dong Industrial Zone. He met with local and international journalists.

During the talks, both sides informed each other of their respective countries' political and economic situation and exchanged views on international and regional issues of mutual concern in an atmosphere of friendship and mutual understanding.

The two countries' leaders noted with pleasure that the bilateral relations have gained new steps of development, particularly in economics and trade, over recent years. They also agreed to set up a joint committee for bilateral cooperation that will meet every two years in order to further promote their bilateral cooperation in each period of time and to better exploit the two countries' potentials.

Also on this occasion, PM Khai and Gen. Musharraf witnessed the signing ceremony of a bilateral trade agreement. They affirmed their belief that the agreement would serve as legal basis for further accelerating both countries' trade activities.

Chief Executive Gen. Musharraf expressed his thanks to PM Khai and other Vietnamese leaders and the Vietnamese people as a whole for their warm welcome to the Pakistani delegation.

Gen. Musharraf invited President Tran Duc Luong and PM Khai to visit Pakistan. The invitations were accepted with pleasure and the visits will be arranged through diplomatic channel.--VNA