ISLAMABAD, Apr 16 (DNA): Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif received a telephone call from HRH Prince Mohammad Bin Salman Bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud, Crown Prince, Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

The Crown Prince warmly congratulated Mr. Shehbaz Sharif on his election
as the Prime Minister of Pakistan. The Prime Minister thanked the Crown
Prince for the felicitations and expressed his resolve to work closely
with the Kingdom to enhance and further strengthen bilateral relations
between their two countries.

During the course of their most warm and friendly conversation, the
Prime Minister paid rich tributes to the Custodian of the Two Holy
Mosques His Majesty King Salman bin Abdulaziz and the Crown Prince
Mohammad Bin Salman for achieving remarkable progress and development of
the Kingdom, under their visionary leadership.

While recalling the fraternal and historic bonds between their two
countries that has been the hallmark of their strategic relationship
over the past seven decades, the Prime Minister reaffirmed his
government’s and his own commitment to further advance these relations
to new heights.

The Prime Minister thanked Saudi Arabia for its historic and continued
support and cooperation, both bilaterally as well as at international
forums, while also assuring the Crown Prince that Pakistan would stand
by the Kingdom at all times.

The Prime Minister and the Crown Prince agreed to work together to
further augment and diversify their bilateral ties in all spheres, in
particular trade, investment and employment generation opportunities.

The Saudi Crown Prince extended his cordial invitation to the Prime
Minister to pay an official visit to the Kingdom, at an early date.
Thanking the Crown Prince for his gracious invitation, the Prime
Minister also extended an invitation to the Crown Prince to undertake a
state visit to Pakistan.