German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier arrived here today for a two-day official visit to Pakistan for wide-ranging talks with top officials on means of bolstering bilateral cooperation. Immediately after arrival, Steinmeier proceeded to the Presidential palace in Islamabad where he held talks with President Asif Ali Zardari on regional and international issues as well as bilateral relations and security developments in the region, official sources said. During the visit, The German Foreign Minister is scheduled to hold another series of talks with Pakistani officials led by Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi on the latest developments of the situation in Pakistan and Afghanistan, as well as ways of strengthening bilateral relations between Pakistan and Germany. Steinmeier will also review with Pakistani officials on prospects of Germany helping Pakistan in the present circumstances to enable the Muslim country to emerge out of the current crisis. During a meeting in Beijing last week, on the sidelines of the seventh summit of the Asia Europe, the German Chancellor had confirmed to Pakistani Prime Minister to support the Muslim country through the Group of Friends of Pakistan to contain the economic crisis it faces.
