ISLAMABAD, Nov 8: Ambassador-designate to the United States Jalil Abbas Jilani would assume duties as head of Pakistan`s diplomatic mission in Washington next month.

`Mr Jalil Abbas Jilani will join his new assignment in December,` Foreign Office Spokesman Aizaz Chaudhry said on Friday.

Mr Jilani had been named as the ambassador to US before Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif`s visit to Washington last month. The US government had immediately issued its `agrément` (diplomatic consent for appointment) in anticipation that he would take over his responsibilities before Mr Sharif`s visit.

Mr Jilani, 58, joined the foreign service in 1979 and is currently the foreign secretary. He has served as ambassador to Belgium, Luxembourg and the European Union and as high commissioner to Australia.

Talking to Dawn, Mr Jilani said he would strive to develop strategic convergences on situation in the region between the two countries and correct misconceptions about Pakistan.

He said he would emphasise on `Pakistan`s positive contributions for peace and stability in Afghanistan and the region`.

`My priority would be to build a strong relationship based on mutual respect and mutual interest,` Mr Jilani said, adding he would want to see trade and economic ties between the two countries grow.

Asked about his assessment of the current state of relationship with Washington, which was accused by the Sharif government of `murdering the nascent peace process with militants` for taking out TTP chief Hakeemullah Mehsud in a drone attack, Ambassador Jilani said the two countries were having a good interaction.

His successor Äbdul Basit, currently ambassador in Germany, would be reaching Islamabad later this month for taking charge of his new assignment.

Formal notification of Mr Basit`s appointment as the foreign secretary would be issued after a meeting of the promotion board. The board is likely to meet any time from now.

Meanwhile, the appointment of Kamran Shafi as high commissioner to the United Kingdom has been put on hold.