Pakistan greatly values its relations with the European Union: PM Shehbaz

ISLAMABAD, April 22 (SABAH): Prime Minister Mian Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif received a telephone call from the President of the European Commission, Ms. Ursula von der Leyen on Friday.

The President of the European Commission congratulated Shehbaz Sharif on assuming the office of the Prime Minister and underlined the Commission’s desire to further strengthen its bilateral relationship with Pakistan.

The Prime Minister expressed his thanks for the felicitations and stated that Pakistan greatly valued its relations with the European Union, which were based on shared values and common objectives of peace, prosperity and development.

The Prime Minister highlighted the importance of closer trade and investment ties between Pakistan and EU. He appreciated the GSP Plus arrangement and underlined that, being a mutually beneficial scheme, it had played an important role in expansion of Pakistan-EU trade.

The Prime Minister lauded Ms. Ursula von der Leyen’s stewardship of the EU Commission and underscored his resolve to further deepen mutual engagement. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif also extended a cordial invitation to the European Commission President.

The two leaders agreed to stay in contact and work together to expand Pakistan-EU relations, intensify investment and trade cooperation, and enhance mutual cooperation between the two sides in diverse fields.