Pakistani President Gen. Pervez Musharraf will visit New Zealand in mid-June to discuss nuclear nonproliferation, counterterrorism and trade, Prime Minister Helen Clark said Monday. "Under President Musharraf, Pakistan has played an important role in global counterterrorism," Clark told reporters. "In addition, the president's support for improved relations with India has helped to ease tensions between these two neighbors over the past year. New Zealand strongly supports this peace process," she said. Pakistan was readmitted to the Commonwealth grouping of former British colonies a year ago in the expectation that it would continue to move down the path of democracy, Clark noted. "President Musharraf's leadership has brought stability to Pakistan. New Zealand continues to encourage Pakistan to take all necessary steps to strengthen its democratic processes and institutions," she said. Bilateral trade with Pakistan totaled only 184 million New Zealand dollars (US$130 million; ¤104 million) in the year to June 2004, and New Zealand companies are keen to do more business in Pakistan. Clark said an information and communications technology mission would visit Pakistan later this month to explore opportunities in telecommunications, broadcasting and banking. Pakistan Foreign Minister Khursheed Kasuri, in New Zealand's capital, Wellington, ahead of the presidential visit, held talks on Monday with Foreign Minister Phil Goff, Trade Minister Jim Sutton and Clark. There was no immediate word on the outcome of the talks, the Associated Press reported.
