Prime Minister Imran Khan discussed issues of bilateral and regional importance with Sri Lankan counterpart, Mahinda Rajapaksa during one-on-one meeting held here on Tuesday.

Speaking during a joint press conference with his Sri Lankan counterpart, PM Imran Khan spoke about his first visit to the country, saying it was when “I was starting my cricket career”.

He said that Pakistan and Sri Lanka were facing issues such as terrorism and Pakistan sacrificed more than 70,000 lives due in terror incidents during last 10 years.

The premier invited Sri Lanka to promote its economic and regional ties with Pakistan. “Through the CPEC [China-Pakistan Economic Corridor], economic ties can be extended to Central Asia and Sri Lanka,” he said.

Pakistan is an “important component” of the CPEC, which he said would “open new avenues for the development of regional ties”.

Sri Lankan PM Mahinda Rajapaksa thanked his counterpart for cooperation of Pakistan in the field of sports.

The two leaders also affirmed the resolve to strengthen relations in diverse areas in the meeting held at Temple Trees - the Sri Lankan prime minister’s office - and focused on strengthening ties in areas of trade and investment, health and education, agriculture, science and technology, security, culture and tourism.

Earlier, PM Rajapaksa received PM Imran Khan on the latter’s arrival here at the Bandaranaike International Airport, where he was also given a guard of honour upon his arrival.