ISLAMABAD -- Pakistan looks forward to President Seyed Mohammad Khatami's visit to Pakistan later this year, Foreign Minister Khurshid Mehmood Kasuri said Wednesday.

Kasuri was briefing editors and columnists of newspapers and senior journalists about the country's foreign policy.

The Pakistani foreign minister said that he had requested his Iranian counterpart Kamal Kharrazi in a meeting in the German city of Bonn to bring substantial proposals for economic ties during President Khatami's visit.

"I told Kharrazi that we have spent 50 years in only photo opportunity but now we should take concerted steps for economic cooperation," he said.

"Given the long tradition of friendship and cooperation and deep cultural bonds between Pakistan and Iran, relations with Iran receive special attention," Kasuri said.

"Pakistan-Iran relations are marked by increasing interaction and meaningful economic cooperation," he said.

Talking about the Iran-Pak-India gas pipeline, he said Pakistan is ready to give international guarantee for the protection of the proposed multi-billion dollar project. He said the pipeline could help ensure peace and stability and bring economic prosperity to the region.

He said Pakistan will be beneficial on two counts, to earn a lot as transit fee and to deal with gas shortage, reported IRNA.