Joint Statement by President Obama and Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif

The U.S. Vice President Joe Biden hosted the Prime Minister at breakfast today at his residence. Both leaders discussed issues of mutual interest in the bilateral relationship as well as cooperation on issues of regional peace and stability.

Both the leaders reaffirmed their keenness to work together to maintain the positive trajectory in the bilateral relations and identified the revived Strategic Dialogue process as the ideal vehicle to further strengthen a people-centric, broad based and mutually beneficial relationship. They emphasized the need to focus on promoting cooperation in trade and investment, energy, education, science and technology sectors and strengthening people to people contacts to realize the true potential of the relationship.

Vice President Biden appreciated Pakistan’s contribution and sacrifices in fighting the scourge of terrorism. He praised Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s leadership in promoting peace and stability in the region and also acknowledged Pakistan’s useful and important role in facilitating peace and reconciliation in Afghanistan. Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif reiterated Pakistan’s commitment to facilitate an Afghan-led and Afghan-owned peace process. Both leaders agreed on the need to further strengthen coordination and cooperation among Pakistan, the U.S. and Afghanistan to ensure success of the reconciliation process.

October 23, 2013
Washington DC