ISLAMABAD: Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi who left for Germany on a two-day official visit Sunday said that his talks with German authorities would focus on enhancing trade between the two countries.
In a video statement before leaving for Berlin, Qureshi said that Germany is Pakistan’s important trading partner within the European Union (EU), adding that the two sides would explore the ways and means how to further enhance economic and trade relations.
He said that the two countries enjoy long-standing and deep bilateral relations and efforts would be made to further deepen these ties.
“During the two days visit, a number of issues would be discussed, including economic relations, enhancing bilateral trade and cooperation in other areas. There is a lot of potential for investment and through economic diplomacy, we would explore ways how to increase our economic footprint in Germany and also by attracting their investment in Pakistan and enhancing our exports to German market,” he added.
He said that the talks would also cover the defence cooperation and people-to-people contacts. Besides, Qureshi added that he would also take his German counterpart into confidence with regard to regional situations, including the peace and security environment of the South Asia and the Afghan peace process. “I am hopeful that this visit will be fruitful,” he added.
Foreign Minister Qureshi is undertaking the visit from 11-13 April 2021 on the invitation of his German counterpart Heiko Maas.
The Foreign Minister will have delegation-level talks with Foreign Minister Maas at the Federal Foreign Office. He will also call on the President of the Bundestag Wolfgang Schauble and have interactions with other dignitaries.
During the talks, according to a statement of the Foreign Office, the two foreign ministers would review the entire gamut of Pakistan-Germany relations and discuss ways and means to further deepen bilateral cooperation in diverse fields, including trade, investment, health, security and defence, education, tourism, and people-to-people exchanges.
This year, Pakistan and Germany are celebrating the 70th anniversary of establishment of diplomatic relations. Both countries are planning to undertake a number of activities in this context, it stated, adding that Pakistan and Germany have been collaborating closely on regional matters and at the multilateral fora.
It stated that Germany is the largest trading partner of Pakistan in the EU. Germany is also home to more than 100,000 Pakistani diaspora.
The Foreign Minister’s visit to Germany is part of regular high-level exchanges between the two countries. Foreign Minister Heiko Maas visited Pakistan in March 2019, the statement added.
Meanwhile, Foreign Minister Makhdoom Shah Mahmood Qureshi Sunday arrived in Berlin, Germany along with his delegation on a two-day official visit.
Upon arrival at the airport, the foreign minister was warmly received by Pakistan ambassador in Germany Dr Muhammad Faisal, senior officials of German foreign office, and senior members of Pakistan embassy, a press release said.
Talking to media after his arrival, the foreign minister said that he would hold meeting with the business leaders and members of Pakistani community.
He said more than 1,00,000 Pakistani had been living in Germany and playing their positive role.
The foreign minister said that they wanted to further expand economic diplomacy and exchange of technology and would be holding discussion with the German leadership.
Tomorrow, he would be holding meeting with his German counterpart in which important regional and international issues would be discussed.
Foreign minister Qureshi said that he would also meet president of German parliament.
He said that parliament had been a legislative body and they wanted to further enhance their parliamentary cooperation with the German parliament. The friendship groups in this regard would be further activated, he added.
According to Foreign Office spokesperson, on the invitation of Foreign Minister of Germany Heiko Maas, Foreign Minister is undertaking an official visit to Germany.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2021
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