Pak-Iran affirm the desire to strengthen cooperation in economic, trade, connectivity, energy, culture & people-to-people links
SAMARKAND, Sep 15 (SABAH): Prime Minister Mian Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif met with President of Iran Seyed Ebrahim Raisi on the sidelines of the SCO Council of Heads of State meeting in Samarkand on Thursday. The two leaders exchanged views on the entire range of bilateral relations.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif extended his gratitude to President Raisi and to the people of Iran for their solidarity and support with the Pakistani nation during the massive floods in the country. The Prime Minister highlighted the devastating impact of the floods caused by climate change, and underscored that Pakistan with the least carbon emissions was bearing the cost of something for which it was not responsible. He stressed the importance of tangible international action to help address the challenges that climatically vulnerable countries like Pakistan were facing.
During the meeting, the two leaders positively evaluated the outcome of the Pakistan-Iran Joint Economic Commission and agreed to further promote bilateral relations in diverse fields. Both sides also affirmed the desire to strengthen cooperation in economic, trade, connectivity, energy, culture and people-to-people links.
The Prime Minister underscored the need for closer bilateral engagement for boosting economic and energy cooperation, operationalizing barter trade, opening border sustenance markets, and facilitation of Pakistani Zaireen. It was agreed that Pakistan would be sending a delegation to discuss measures for expanded cooperation in bilateral trade and energy sectors.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif reiterated his invitation to President Raisi to visit Pakistan at the earliest convenience. President Raisi renewed his invitation to the Prime Minister to visit Iran.
Meanwhile Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif had a bilateral meeting with the President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko on the sidelines of the SCO Council of Heads of State meeting in Samarkand on Thursday.
The two leaders comprehensively reviewed the bilateral relationship and discussed regional and international issues.
The Prime Minister highlighted the massive human and material losses caused by the unprecedented floods in Pakistan and thanked President Lukashenko for his sympathies and condolences over the devastation caused. Underscoring the rising threat of climate change to countries like Pakistan, the Prime Minister stressed the need to combat this menace through collective action at the global level.
While appreciating the broad framework of cooperation and mechanisms in place, the Prime Minister expressed his commitment towards increasing the momentum of bilateral collaboration in all fields including political, trade, investment and economic cooperation between Pakistan and Belarus. The two sides also agreed to hold the next session of Pakistan-Belarus Joint Economic Commission (JEC) at the earliest, which could prove instrumental in enhancing bilateral trade and mutual cooperation in diverse areas.
The Prime Minister conveyed Pakistan’s support for Belarus’ full membership of SCO and expressed the confidence that this would further strengthen the Organization.
The Prime Minister accepted the invitation by President Lukashenko to visit Belarus. The Prime Minister also extended an invitation to the President of Belarus to visit Pakistan.