QINGDAO, JUN 09 (DNA) -President Mamnoon Hussain held a bilateral meeting with the Iranian President Dr. Hassan Rouhani on Saturday at Qingdao, China.

The two leaders are visiting China to participate in the 18th Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Council of Heads of State Summit. During the meeting wide array of issues were discussed including bilateral relations, regional and global situation.

President Mamnoon Hussain underscored that Pakistan and Iran enjoy close, cordial and fraternal relations. Pakistan and Iran continue to support each other on issues of common interest.

He appreciated the statement of the Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei in support of the just struggle of the Kashmiri people.

Both Presidents agreed that the two countries should further strengthen bilateral economic relations through inter-alia increased bilateral trade. They agreed that connectivity between the two sister-ports of Gwadar and Chabahar would further deepen bilateral ties through enhanced trade and people to people contacts.

On the issue of Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPoA), President Mamnoon Hussain expressed the hope that all parties of the JCPOA would continue to implement the agreement and uphold their commitments.

The two leaders also discussed the current global situation and agreed on the need to focus on upholding principles and rules of international law and amicably resolving various global and regional crises through diplomacy and negotiations.

Discussing the regional situation, the two leaders emphasized that peace and stability in Afghanistan was important for both Pakistan and Iran.