Amb.Armellin receives Pakistani authorities, 'strong cooperation'

(ANSA) - ROMA, 26 OTT - The Ambassador of Italy to the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, Marilina Armellin, her consort, Domenico Polloni, and the First Secretary, Augusto Palmieri, welcomed the President of the Pakistani Senate, Yusuf Raza Gilani, the second highest ranking member of the State, and the Minister of Defence, Khawaja Asif, at the Italian Residence. The event provided an opportunity to discuss inter-parliamentary cooperation, inaugurated by the recent establishment in both Italy and Pakistan of the Italy-Pakistan Parliamentary Friendship Groups, as well as the strengthening of bilateral ties in the defence sector, also following the recent stopover of the Italian Carrier Strike Group, consisting of the aircraft carrier Cavour and the frigate Alpino, at the port of Karachi.
    Also expected in December is the arrival, also in Karachi, of the iconic Italian school ship Amerigo Vespucci, while a large representation of Italian defence industries will participate in the important regional trade fair IDEAS, scheduled to take place in Pakistan from 19 to 22 November. The authoritative interlocutors also gave their assessments on the recent judicial reform adopted by the Pakistani Parliament and on the evolution of relations between the countries in the region following the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit held in Islamabad.