Pakistan-Korea Ties Grow
Pakistani Ambassador to Korea Murad Ali contributed the following article on the occasion of Pakistan Day. -- ED.
It was 70 years ago today when Muslims of South Asia resolved to carve out an independent Muslim state under the dynamic leadership of its founder, Quaid-i-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah.
The struggle for independence resulted in the creation of Pakistan on Aug. 14, 1947.
The land of Pakistan has been a cradle of ancient civilizations.
With well developed cities, Indus Valley Civilization was contemporary to the Nile, Mesopotamia and Yellow River Civilizations.
Over 2,000 years ago, Gandhara Buddhist Civilization flourished in northern Pakistan, with Taxila as a seat of Buddhist learning.
Rev. Maranantha, a famous Buddhist monk, came from Pakistan in the fourth century, and introduced Buddhism to the Korean Kingdom of Baekje.
In the eighth century, the venerable Buddhist monk Hyecho from Korea's Silla Kingdom traveled to Pakistan and left a travelogue.
Pakistan and Korea established ambassadorial-level relations in 1983.
These relations have flourished with each passing year.
The people of Pakistan greatly value these ties, and the leadership has paid visits to this "Land of Morning Calm."
The landmark infrastructure projects completed with the help of renowned South Korean companies will always testify to the lasting relationship between Pakistan and the Republic of Korea.
Thousands of Pakistani workers are contributing to the economic prosperity of Korea and providing a lasting plank of friendship and cooperation between the two friendly countries.
The people of Pakistan gratefully acknowledge the humanitarian aid and relief assistance offered by the government and people of South Korea after the devastating earthquake in October 2005 hit northern areas of Pakistan and Azad Kashmir and the assistance rendered in the wake of the Baluchistan earthquake in October 2008.
South Korea is also part of Friends of Democratic Pakistan (FODP), a forum to help to overcome its economic and fiscal crisis.
President Lee Myung-bak attended the first summit of FODP in New York last September. This clearly reflects the bonds of fraternity which the two people cherish so much.
Pakistan and Korea closely coordinate and consult each other on various issues and support each other in various international organizations.
In order to have sustained institutional contacts, the two countries are holding regular consultations to further explore the avenues of bilateral cooperation in the areas of trade, commerce, culture and education.
Our bilateral relations have the strength of 28 bilateral agreements and memorandum of understandings (MOUs).
The two-way trade marked $1.11 billion in 2009.
Pakistan and Korea signed a MOU in February in Seoul, regarding traffic rights under the 1996 Air Services Agreement.
Under the MOU, the designated airlines of the two sides will operate direct flights between Pakistan and South Korea.
With the start of the direct flights, I am sure that the people to people contact as well as trade and economic relations between the two countries will further prosper in the coming years.
Over the past years, we have seen increasing Korean investment in the areas of energy, infrastructure development, mining, oil and gas exploration, telecommunication and food processing.
Therefore, I am confident that the abiding ties of friendship that so happily exist between Pakistan and Korea will continue to grow, to the mutual benefit of our two peoples.
The address of the Pakistani Embassy in Seoul: 124-13, Itaewon-dong, Yongsan-gu, Seoul 140-200