Office of the Press Secretary FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE July 22, 2019 PRESIDENT DONALD J. TRUMP WANTS TO WORK WITH PAKISTAN TO ACHIEVE PEACE, STABILITY, AND ECONOMIC PROSPERITY IN THE REGION   WORKING TOWARD PEACE, STABILITY, AND PROSPERITY: President Donald J. Trump is working to strengthen cooperation with Pakistan on issues that are vital to the peace, stability, and prosperity of the South Asia region. Today, President Trump is welcoming Prime Minister Imran Khan of Pakistan to the White House. President Trump and Prime Minister Khan will discuss a range of issues, including counterterrorism, defense, energy, and trade. The United States is committed to creating the conditions necessary for a peaceful South Asia.    President Trump wants to build stronger economic and trade ties with Pakistan, which would benefit both of our countries, as we make progress on core United States security concerns.   CHARTING A PATH TO PEACE AND STABILITY: President Trump has made clear that he wants to see peace and stability in the region.   The President acknowledges the initial steps Pakistan has taken to improve regional security and counter terrorism. Pakistan has made efforts to facilitate the Afghanistan peace talks, and we are going to ask them to do more. The path to a strong and enduring partnership between Pakistan and the United States lies in working together to find a peaceful resolution of the conflict in Afghanistan. Pakistan has taken some steps against terrorist groups operating within Pakistan. It is vital that Pakistan take action to shut down all groups once and for all. BUILDING ECONOMIC PROSPERITY: The United States and Pakistan enjoy a strong economic partnership that benefits both of countries.  The United States and Pakistan set a new record for bilateral trade in 2018 of $6.6 billion.   United States exports to Pakistan reached a record high of $2.8 billion in 2018, supporting approximately 10,000 American jobs.    The United States is the largest export market for Pakistan’s goods.     Our trade relationship with Pakistan has been especially beneficial for American farmers. The United States exported $1.4 billion in agricultural products to Pakistan in 2018. Over the past 15 years, the United States has been one of the top five investors in Pakistan.    American energy producers are seeing more and more business opportunities with Pakistan. American companies are incorporating cutting-edge technologies into energy projects throughout Pakistan. American companies have competed to win more than $3 billion in energy-related business in Pakistan.    Pakistan has purchased extensive amounts of American liquefied natural gas (LNG), including 22.8 billion cubic feet of LNG from March 2017 to April 2019. ExxonMobil reestablished its presence in Pakistan in 2018 after 27 years and is working to increase LNG imports. ###