ISLAMABAD - President Asif Ali Zardari on Thursday emphasised the need to further enhance trade and defence ties with Bahrain and to expand bilateral cooperation in labour and manpower between the two countries. The President was talking to Commander National Guards of Bahrain Lt Gen Sheikh Mohammad Bin Isa Bin Salman Al-Khalifa who called on the President at the Aiwan-e-Sadr Thursday. Ambassador of Bahrain to Pakistan Mohammad Ebrahim Mohammad Abdul Qadir was also present on the occasion. Pak-Bahrain bilateral relations particularly defence cooperation and regional issues were discussed during the meeting. The President said Pakistan values its relations with the brotherly Muslim country Bahrain adding that the existing bilateral trade between the two countries was well below the real potential and could be enhanced considerably. He urged for regular meetings of the Pakistan-Bahrain Joint Economic Commission to boost bilateral trade and investment. He also invited Bahraini businessmen and investors to benefit from the attractive incentives packages Pakistan was offering to foreign investors in various fields. Commenting on current situation in Middle East, the President reiterated that Pakistan desired peace, security and stability in Bahrain and in the whole of the Middle East. The President also lauded the social and economic progress made by Bahrain under its leadership and said that Pakistan wished continued prosperity and stability of Bahrain and its people. The President said that the presence of a sizeable Pakistani community living and working in Bahrain was a manifestation of close bilateral ties between the two countries and noted that Pakistani community was positively contributing to the development of both the countries. Lt Gen Sheikh Mohammad Bin Isa Bin Salman Al-Khalifa, Commander National Guards of Bahrain, thanked the President for meeting and expressed the hope that the existing close cooperation between the two countries would continue to grow. Meanwhile, talking to the visiting dignitary during a separate meeting, Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani said Pakistan values its brotherly relations with Bahrain and desired to further strengthen ccooperation in all spheres. He expressed confidence that the fifth meeting of the Pakistan-Bahrain Joint Economic Commission would be held soon to promote the bilateral links. The Prime Minister reiterated that Pakistan supports all efforts for peace and stability in the Islamic world so as to promote development and prosperity of the common people. The Commander of National Guards of Bahrain while reciprocating to the Prime Ministers remarks called for exchange of high-level visits to further strengthen the bilateral relations between the two countries.