New Delhi: Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee on July 8 met a Pakistani business delegation and said their visit was a "positive" reaction to his recent peace initiative that also included enhanced trade and economic cooperation.

Vajpayee, who spent 45 minutes with the Pakistani business team, said stepped up economic co- operation between the two countries would help create conducive atmosphere for betterment of Indo- Pak relations, according an External Affairs Ministry spokesman.

The seven-member Pakistani group congratulated the Prime Minister for the hand of friendship extended by him. They recalled that Indo-Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry was set up after terms for Pakistani businessmen so that trade between the two countries could flourish.

During the meeting, the delegation also presented a joint memorandum prepared by the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) and the Pakistan Chamber of Commerce and Industry on increasing bilateral trade.

PTI