AlHijjah 23, 1432, Nov 19, 2011, SPA - Expressing hope for early finalization of a road map for strategic partnership between Pakistan and Germany, President Asif Ali Zardari on Friday said that time has arrived to transform the existing broad-based equation with Germany into a comprehensive and substantive partnership based on shared values of democracy, pluralism, economic liberalism and common interests. The President said this during a meeting with German Federal Minister for Foreign Affairs Dr. Guido Westerwelle in Islamabad. He said that Pakistan seeks to further enhance its relations with Germany, both at the bilateral level as well as in the European Union context, according to a report of the Associated Press of Pakistan. The President stressed the need for greater economic cooperation between the two countries saying that Germany was a global economic power and Pakistan offered great opportunities to investors in economic projects. He said that Pakistan was keen to expand its trade relations with Germany which was the fourth largest trading partner of the major Asian country and proposed the setting up of a Joint Working Group on trade. Dr. Guido Westerwelle thanked the President for the meeting and assured the German Government's continued support to the people of Pakistan and the democratic dispensation of the country.
