Pakistan, France likely to sign jt business council

ISLAMABAD, May 4 (Business Recorder): During Gilani's visit, Pakistan and France are likely to sign a joint declaration on security cooperation and economic partnership. This is Prime Minister Gilani's first official visit to France where he will meet President Nicholas Sarkozy and Prime Minister Francois Fillon, besides interacting with the business community. The two countries are also expected to ink a memorandum of understanding between the Federation of French Business Corporations and Pakistan Joint Business Council to establish the Pakistan-France joint business council. The purpose is to strengthen trade linkages in the fields of energy, telecommunication, infrastructure development, banking, environment, waste management and defence. Gilani's meeting with President Sarkozy will focus on bilateral, regional and international issues and the two countries relations in the changing international scenarios. The meeting of two leaders will be followed by a press stake-out.