RIYADH, DEC 16, SPA -- PAKISTANI PREMIER SHAUKAT AZIZ HAS UNDERSCORED THE SIGNIFICANCE OF HIS VISIT TO THE KINGDOM OF SAUDI ARABIA, AND SAID IT WILL PROVIDE HIM WITH A GOOD OPPORTUNITY TO COMPLETE THE TALKS WHICH BEGAN WITH THE CUSTODIAN OF THE TWO HOLY MOSQUES KING ABDULLAH BINABDULAZIZ AND CROWN PRINCE SULTAN BIN ABDULAZIZ, THE DEPUTY PREMIER, DEFENSE AND AVIATION MINISTER AND INSPECTOR GENERAL, DURING THEIR HISTORICAL VISIT TO PAKISTAN. HE NOTED THAT THE VISIT WILL ALSO POSITIVELY CONTRIBUTE TO FURTHER CEMENTING THE SAUDI-PAKISTANI RELATIONS IN THE ECONOMIC AND POLITICAL DOMAINS. HIGHLIGHTING THE EXISTING DEEP-ROOTED FRATERNAL RELATIONS BETWEEN THE KINGDOM AND PAKISTAN, AZIZ SAID THE VISIT EARLIER PAID TO PAKISTAN BY KING ABDULLAH BIN ABDULAZIZ AND CROWN PRINCE SULTAN BIN ABDULAZIZ HAD EMBODIED THE EXISTING CLOSE RELATIONS BETWEEN THE TWO COUNTRIES. IN HIS STATEMENTS TO AL-EKHBARIA TELEVISION STATION, AZIZ SAID PAKISTAN, LIKE THE KINGDOM, IS KEEN ON ENHANCING THE PILLARS OF PEACE AND PROSPERITY AND SUPPORTING THE MUSLIM CAUSES. CRITICIZING MISUNDERSTANDING OF ISLAM IN SOME PARTS OF THE WORLD, AZIZ SAID ISLAM IS THE RELIGION OF PEACE AND LOVE. HE POINTED OUT THAT THE KINGDOM AND PAKISTAN HAVE BEEN COOPERATING WITHIN THE FRAMEWORK OF THE ORGANIZATION OF THE ISLAMIC CONFERENCE (OIC) FOR THE SERVICE OF THE MUSLIM CAUSES AND FOR ENHANCING BILATERAL RELATIONS. AZIZ REITERATED EXISTENCE OF COOPERATION BETWEEN THE KINGDOM AND PAKISTAN IN COMBATING TERRORISM, AND SAID JOINT EFFORTS SHOULD BE EXERTED FOR THE CONTAINMENT OF THE PHENOMENON OF TERRORISM.--MORE www.spa.gov.sa/411480