ISLAMABAD: Spokesman Ministry of Foreign Affairs Asim Iftikhar Ahmed has said Foreign Minister’s visit to Romania and Spain served to reinforce our longstanding friendship and cooperation with the two countries.
During weekly press briefing he said, in Bucharest, the Foreign Minister called on the Romanian Prime Minister, held meetings with the Romanian Foreign Minister, Minister for Economy and other dignitaries. Two MoUs were signed – relating to Award of scholarships to Pakistani students; and Cooperation between the Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce & Industry (FPCCI) and the Romanian Chamber of Commerce & Industry (RCCI). The Foreign Minister interacted with the Pakistani community, and also inaugurated ‘PakistanCultural & Trade Exhibition Center’ at the Pakistan Embassy.
On the next leg in Madrid, the Foreign Minister held meetings with his Spanish counterpart, Minister of Industry, Trade and Tourism, members of the Foreign Relations Committee of Congress of Deputies and called on the President of Congress of Deputies of Spain. He also interacted with members of Academia, and the Pakistani community.
While in Madrid, Foreign Minister Qureshi also met the Secretary General of UN World Tourism Organization to exchange views on benefiting from WTO’s expertise for development and digital transformation of Pakistan’s tourism sector.
On 3 January, Prime Minister Imran Khan launched the Pak-China Business Investment Forum, which is aimed at increasing investment in Pakistan and promoting business-to-business industrial cooperation. The forum would endeavour to promote sustainable investment, export industry and the development of modern technology in Pakistan.
On 5 January, Secretary General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), HE Nayef bin Falah Al-Hajraf, visited Pakistan on the invitation of the Foreign Minister. Besides delegation-level talks with the Foreign Minister, the Secretary-General met with the Minister for Finance and Revenue, and Prime Minister’s Advisor for Commerce and Investment. The visit provided an opportunity to review Pak-GCC relations and foster enhanced collaboration in diverse fields, with a renewed focus on trade and economic cooperation between Pakistan and GCC Member States.A strong business delegation led by the Chairman of Oman Chamber of Commerce and Industries visited Pakistan. The delegation called on the President, Prime Minister, Foreign Minister and other dignitaries. The visit imparted further impetus to bilateral economic relationship.
The spokesman further said, Foreign Minister Qureshi inaugurated International Seminar on the theme of “Combating Corruption – A Prerequisite for the full enjoyment of all Human Rights and Sustainable Development”, organized by the Government of Pakistan and the OIC Independent Permanent Human Rights Commission in collaboration with the UN, in Islamabad on 6-7 January 2022.
Foreign Secretary Sohail Mahmood met with a delegation from European countries that was on a study visit to Pakistan, organized by the International Centre for Migration Policy Development (ICMPD), to assess the opportunities for support and cooperation in the realm of migration management, he added.
Asim Iftikhar said, on 5th January, the Kashmiris’ Right to Self-determination Day was observed. On this day in 1949, the United Nations Commission for India & Pakistan (UNCIP) in its resolution guaranteed the Kashmiri people the right to self-determination through a free and impartial plebiscite under the auspices of the United Nations.
Pakistan, he said, calls on the international community to take immediate notice of the Indian state-terrorism in IIOJK and hold India accountable for the egregious violations of human rights and international humanitarian law in IIOJK.
Chief Of Land Forces Democratic Republic Of Congo Calls On Air Chief13 January, 2022: Lieutenant General Sikabwe Asinda Fall, Chief of Land Forces, Democratic Republic of Congo called on Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmed Baber Sidhu, Chief of the Air Staff, Pakistan Air Force in his office today.
The visiting dignitary lauded professionalism of PAF personnel and exceptional progress made by PAF over the years, especially through indigenization. The Air Chief highlighted the cordial relations between the two countries and reiterated his resolve to further augment the existing cooperation between the two Air Forces.Various matters of mutual interest and professional cooperation also came under discussion during the meeting.
