- Foreign ministers examine the full spectrum of bilateral relations.
- Discussions focus on exploring opportunities to deepen engagement in different sectors of trade and commerce, investment, defense, education, labor, science and technology and of the culture.
- President Batet thanks Shah for Pakistan’s assistance in the evacuation of people of concern from Afghanistan.
BUCHAREST: Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi paid an official visit to Romania from January 9-10, 2022, at the invitation of Romanian Foreign Minister Bogdan Aurescu.
During bilateral talks, the two foreign ministers reviewed the full range of bilateral relations. Discussions were held on exploring possibilities to deepen engagement in different sectors, including trade and commerce, investment, defense, education, labor, science and technology and culture. .
The two countries agreed to hold the next round of bilateral political consultations in Islamabad and to revive the Joint Economic Commission.
Qureshi appreciated Romania’s support for Pakistan within the European Union (EU), especially for GSP + status.
Exchanging views on regional issues, the Foreign Minister briefed his Romanian counterpart on Pakistan’s efforts for a peaceful and stable Afghanistan and ongoing human rights violations in Indian Jammu and Kashmir (IOJK).
Pakistan and Romania signed two memoranda of understanding during the visit concerning the awarding of scholarships to Pakistani students by the Politehnica University in Bucharest; and cooperation between the Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry of Pakistan (FPCCI) and the Romanian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (RCCI).
The Foreign Minister also called on Romanian Prime Minister Nicolae Ciuca and reiterated Pakistan’s willingness to build a broad and substantial relationship with Romania.
He thanked the Romanian government for announcing the donation of 500,000 doses of the COVID vaccine to Pakistan.
Prime Minister Ciuca appreciated Pakistan’s facilitation in the evacuation of Romanian nationals from Afghanistan.
During the meeting with the Romanian Minister of Economy, the two sides appreciated the increase in bilateral trade despite COVID and discussed ways to further strengthen economic ties.
Aurescu took to his official Twitter account and wrote: “Glad to welcome FM Shah Mehmood Qureshi today for in-depth political consultations, including a follow-up to recent valuable contacts. We discussed prospects and concrete ways of doing things. advance our political dialogue, our economic ties, sectoral cooperative and interpersonal relations. “
Earlier, Qureshi opened the “Pakistan Cultural & Trade Exhibition Center” at the Pakistani Embassy in Bucharest. The Center will serve as a venue for a permanent exhibition of Pakistani export items and for holding cultural events aimed at promoting tourism and the country’s sweet image.
Addressing the Pakistani community in Romania, Qureshi highlighted the measures taken by the government to ensure the well-being of the Pakistani diaspora.
Pakistan and Romania enjoy close and friendly relations. The two sides hold similar views on important regional and global issues and have traditionally cooperated in various international fora.
Qureshi meets the president of the Spanish Congress of Deputies
MADRID: FM Qureshi called the president of the Congress of Deputies of Spain Meritxell Batet and discussed ways to strengthen bilateral Pakistan-Spain relations in various fields.
Stressing the importance of parliamentary exchanges, the Minister of Foreign Affairs invited the Spanish parliamentarians to visit Pakistan, which would help to cement the areas of cooperation in progress.
Batet agreed with Shah that the threat of COVID-19 should be addressed through global cooperation through judicious distribution of vaccines and providing fiscal space for developing countries to invest in health and revive their economies.
President Batet thanked Shah for Pakistan’s assistance in evacuating people of concern from Afghanistan. The two sides expressed converging views on the need to retain qualified human resources in Afghanistan to manage the functioning of various state and social institutions.
Highlighting the recent 17th extraordinary session of the OIC Foreign Ministers Council (OIC-CFM) hosted by Pakistan on December 19, 2021, to deal with the urgent humanitarian situation in Afghanistan, the Minister of Foreign Affairs reiterated the need to engage the interim government in Afghanistan by the international community.
He appreciated the interest of the EU and the donation of 20 million euros from Spain for humanitarian aid to the Afghan people. The commitment of the Spanish government to play a supporting role in ensuring the education of children, especially Afghan women and girls, was highly commendable.
Batet accepted Shah’s invitation to lead a parliamentary delegation to Pakistan in the near future.
This visit was undertaken with the aim of strengthening Pakistan’s engagement with members of the European Union, in particular by strengthening the economic interface and sharing Pakistan’s perspective on important regional issues.
– Thumbnail image: Twitter / @ SMQureshiPTI