FM Bilawal, UAE counterpart agree to further deepen Pak-UAE cooperation

ISLAMABAD: Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari and United Arab Emirates Minister for Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan on Saturday emphasized the vital importance of Pak-UAE relations and agreed to further deepen mutual cooperation in all fields, including economy, trade, energy and investment.

The foreign minister met his UAE counterpart on the sidelines of the Annual Sir Bani Yas Forum in Abu Dhabi.

The foreign minister expressed his gratitude to the UAE leadership for their generous support for the flood-affected people of Pakistan.

This was a manifestation of the deep and time-tested brotherly ties between the two nations that have always stood by each other in hour of need. UAE was one of the largest donors of humanitarian assistance during difficult times, he added.

Foreign minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari emphasized the need for an increased volume of trade and investment between the two countries.

The two leaders exchanged views on regional and international issues of mutual interest and agreed to continue the close collaboration between the two brotherly countries.

The foreign minister also congratulated his UAE counterpart on the successful hosting of the annual Sir Bani Yas Forum.

Meanwhile, Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari and Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Hina Rabbani Khar, Saturday met the European Union High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Josep Borrell, and the Deputy Secretary General for Political Affairs, European External Action Service, Enrique Mora and discussed matters of mutual interest.

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The Foreign Minister during the meeting held in the United Arab Emirates expressed satisfaction over multifaceted relations between Pakistan and the European Union, which have strengthened over time.

He noted that recent interactions between the two sides including holding of Joint Commission in Islamabad last month and the visit of the members of the European Parliament this week, have maintained positive momentum in bilateral ties.

The Foreign Minister also appreciated the humanitarian assistance of 133 million Euros by the EU and its member states to Pakistan after the devastation caused by the recent climate-induced floods. He apprised the EU High Representative of the enormous task Pakistan is faced with on account of rehabilitation and reconstruction work.

He called on the international community to rise to the occasion and ensure climate justice for Pakistan.

The High Representative assured full support to the Foreign Minister in meeting the daunting challenge.

The Foreign Minister and the EU High Representative also discussed the GSP Plus – a scheme mutually beneficial for both Pakistan and the European Union.

He hoped that Pakistan and the EU would continue to benefit from it and its successor dispensation in the future as well. The High Representative lauded Pakistan’s progress in implementing the international conventions that are part of the GSP plus scheme.

The Foreign Minister urged the High Representative that the European Union should delist Pakistan at the soonest possible from its list of countries having strategic deficiencies in their Anti Money Laundering/Counter Financing of Terrorism regimes, after Pakistan exited the FATF grey list last month. The High Representative appreciated Pakistan’s remarkable progress in completing the two Financial Action Task Force Action Plans and assured the Foreign Minister that the EU would delist Pakistan soon.

Both sides agreed to further strengthen Pakistan-EU relations and to remain engaged, inter alia, with established institutional mechanisms.