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Pakistani Leader Makes Landmark Trip To Vietnam
HANOI, May 3 (News Agencies) - Pakistan's military leader General Pervez Musharraf arrived here Thursday on the first visit to Vietnam by a Pakistani head of government since the two countries forged ties nearly three decades ago.
Musharraf arrived from neighboring Myanmar and was due to stay here for three days at the invitation of Prime Minister Phan Van Khai, officials said.
On Thursday he was due to sign an accord aiming to boost bilateral trade between the two countries. They launched diplomatic ties in 1972, but two-way trade still remains low, rising from nine million dollars in 1999 to $26.7 million last year.
Vietnam exports mainly tea, pepper, coffee, rubber, shoes and textiles to Pakistan and imports cotton, fertilizers, clothes, machines and accessories, Vietnamese sources said.
Musharraf will meet with Khai and on Friday hold talks with President Tran Duc Luong, as well as visit the mausoleum of Communist Vietnam's founding father, Ho Chi Minh.
The general is accompanied by a delegation including Foreign Minister Inamul Haq, Minister of Science and Technology Ataur Rahman and the head of the exports bureau, Tariq Ikram.
He will also visit businesses as well as cultural and historic sights in Hanoi, before heading home on Saturday.
Hanoi does not have an embassy in Pakistan having traditionally held friendly relations with Islamabad's arch rival, India. But it has taken a neutral stand over the conflict in the disputed Himalayan region of Kashmir, claimed by both India and Pakistan.
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