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High Commissioner of Pakistan Jalil Abbas Jilani meets Australian Foreign Minister

Canberra, (Sada-e-Watan News): Pakistan and Australia on Thursday, 9th August 2007, expressed the desire to further expand and intensify the existing level of cooperation in various areas of common interests. This was discussed during the first official meeting between the new High Commissioner of Pakistan Mr. Jalil Abbas Jilani and Australia’s Federal Minister of Foreign Affairs Hon. Alexander Downer at his office in Canberra.
Both sides exchanged views on matters of bilateral interest and underlined the need for enhanced cooperation for the mutual benefits of the two countries. The High Commissioner  Jilani said that Pakistan attached greater importance to its ties with Australia and wanted to further build up its relations with in divergent fields.
The High Commissioner Mr. Jalil Abbas Jilani conveyed the greetings and best wishes of President Pervez Musharraf, Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz and the people of Pakistan to the Government and people of Australia. He said that Pakistan and Australia enjoyed close and cordial relations and the two countries shared a common desire to have peace and stability in the region including Afghanistan. Pakistan-Australia trade and economic relations were showing an upward trend so were the defence ties. Syed Jalil Abbas Jilani thanked the Australian Government for their earthquake assistance, the scholarship programme and the Australian Government’s understanding and support to Pakistan’s efforts against terrorism.

Alexander Downer

Alexander Downer has been Australia's Minister for Foreign Affairs since the election of the Howard Government in March 1996, and has held the seat of Mayo for the Liberal Party continuously since 1984.

Born in 1951, Mr. Downer was educated at Geelong Grammar School, Victoria; Radley College, Oxford, United Kingdom; and the University of Newcastle on Tyne, United Kingdom. He holds a Bachelor of Arts (Hons) in Politics and Economics and is a Doctor of Civil Laws (honoris causa).

Prior to entering Parliament, Mr. Downer held a number of senior positions in government and the private sector:

• Economist, Bank of New South Wales (Westpac), from 1975 to 1976;
• Diplomat, Department of Foreign Affairs from 1976 to 1982, serving at the Australian mission to the EEC; Australian Representation to NATO; Australian Embassy, Belgium and Luxembourg; and Senior Foreign Affairs Representative in South Australia;
• Political Adviser to the former Prime Minister, the Hon. Malcolm Fraser, and Political Adviser to the Federal Leader of the Opposition, the Hon. Andrew Peacock, from 1982 to 1983; and
• Executive Director of the Australian Chamber of Commerce, from 1983 to 1984.

Mr. Downer has held a number of other senior Parliamentary positions. He stepped down as Opposition Leader in January 1995 and became Shadow Minister for Foreign Affairs. Mr. Downer served in this capacity until the election of the Howard Government. He has also served as Shadow Minister in a number of portfolios: Treasurer (1993-1994), Defence (1992-1993), Trade and Trade Negotiations (1990-1992), Housing and Small Business (1988-1989) and Arts, Heritage and the Environment (1987).

Since becoming Foreign Minister in 1996, Mr. Downer has overseen a range of important developments on the International Stage. Mr. Downer is married to Nicky. They have three daughters, Georgina, Olivia and Henrietta, and one son, Edward.

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