Pakistan, South Africa sign agreement to establish joint commission

PRETORIA: Pakistan and South Africa have signed an agreement on the establishment of Pakistan-South Africa Joint Commission.

The document was signed by Pakistan High Commissioner to South Africa Mazhar Javed and South Africa’s Minister for International Relations and Cooperation Dr GNM Pandor, in Pretoria.

The agreement provides for an institutional mechanism for bilateral cooperation in all agreed areas of cooperation. This agreement will also provide an effective mechanism to review, monitor and expand cooperation in diverse areas.

Dr Pandor termed the signing of the document a milestone in Pakistan-South Africa relations.

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Meanwhile, Foreign Minister Makhdoom Shah Mahmood Qureshi on Thursday underscored the significance of Pakistan in providing a vital link between South Asia and Central and West Asia and onwards to Europe.

Representing Pakistan at the 13th Asia-Europe Meeting Summit (ASEM13) being hosted virtually by Cambodia from 25-26 November 2021, the foreign minister highlighted several projects undertaken by Pakistan in cooperating with countries of the region, including China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).

He urged ASEM members to strengthen connections between Asia and Europe in education, science and technology, trade, business, security, culture, infrastructure, and people-to-people contacts.

The Asia-Europe Meeting is an informal dialogue forum between Asia and Europe, which addresses political, economic and social issues confronting the two regions and aims at strengthening their relationship in a spirit of mutual respect and equal partnership.