NEW YORK: Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar held separate meetings with the foreign ministers of Nepal, Germany and the Republic of Korea on the sidelines of the 81st Session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York.
During his meeting with Nepalese Foreign Minister Shisir Khanal, Ishaq Dar expressed condolences over the loss of lives and devastation caused by recent flash floods in Nepal. He assured that Pakistan stands in solidarity with the people of Nepal during the difficult time.
Foreign Minister Khanal thanked Pakistan for its support and briefed Dar on the scale of the disaster and its impact on people and infrastructure.
The two sides reviewed bilateral relations and discussed measures to enhance cooperation, including through Political Consultations and Economic Consultations.
They also exchanged views on regional and global developments and stressed the importance of continued coordination at multilateral forums, particularly the United Nations and the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation.
During his meeting with German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul, the two ministers felicitated each other on the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Pakistan and Germany.
They reaffirmed the importance of sustained high-level engagement to further strengthen bilateral ties and discussed expanding cooperation in trade, investment, economic relations and business-to-business linkages.
The two sides also agreed to enhance cooperation in defence, education, skills development and people-to-people contacts. They exchanged views on regional developments, with the German foreign minister appreciating Pakistan’s role in promoting regional peace and stability through dialogue and diplomacy.
The situation in Palestine also came under discussion. Dar underscored the importance of sustained international efforts for a ceasefire, humanitarian assistance and a just and lasting solution based on the two-state solution.
In his meeting with South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Hyun, Dar reviewed bilateral relations and discussed ways to strengthen cooperation in trade, investment and economic relations.
The deputy prime minister emphasized the importance of greater business-to-business engagement to create new economic opportunities between Pakistan and South Korea.
The Korean foreign minister appreciated Pakistan’s constructive role in promoting dialogue and diplomacy to address regional issues.
Both ministers also highlighted the importance of the multilateral system and reaffirmed their commitment to working together at the United Nations and other multilateral forums on issues of mutual interest.
The sides in all three meetings agreed to remain in close contact and work towards further expanding bilateral cooperation.