Discusses economic, security cooperation with Chinese FM: reaffirms Pakistan\u2019s desire to strengthen bilateral cooperation with Iran
\n HUANGSHAN
\nForeign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi has conveyed Pakistan\u2019s readiness to Russia to reinforce efforts for a diplomatic solution, including through the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) platform, to resolve conflict between Moscow and Kyiv.
\nForeign Minister Qureshi said this during a meeting with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov on the sidelines of the Third Ministerial Meeting of Neighbouring Countries of Afghanistan on Wednesday.
\nQureshi shared Pakistan\u2019s principled position on the situation in Ukraine including cessation of hostilities, provision of humanitarian assistance, and efforts for a solution through dialogue and diplomacy. He expressed the hope that talks between Russia and Ukraine would succeed in finding a diplomatic solution.
\nIn the context of the discussions held during Prime Minister Imran Khan\u2019s recent visit to Moscow and their own telephone conversation earlier this month, the two foreign ministers reviewed bilateral relations and exchanged views on the regional situation.
\nMeanwhile, Qureshi and Chinese State Councillor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi met and discussed various issues of regional and international importance on Wednesday.
\n\u201cThe two foreign ministers exchanged views on bilateral strategic, economic and security cooperation, Covid-19 pandemic, peace, stability and development in Afghanistan, and regional and international issues of mutual interest,\u201d according to a statement.
\nQureshi stressed that relations with China are the cornerstone of Pakistan\u2019s foreign policy and reaffirmed the government\u2019s resolve to further deepen the Pakistan-China All-Weather Strategic Cooperative Partnership. He reiterated Pakistan\u2019s firm adherence to the One-China Policy and continued support on issues of China\u2019s core interests and thanked China for its consistent support to Pakistan\u2019s sovereignty, territorial integrity, political stability and socio-economic development.
\nRecalling the recent high-level exchanges between the two sides, including the prime minister\u2019s visit to China in February 2022 for the opening ceremony of Beijing Winter Olympics and State Councillor Wang Yi\u2019s visit to Islamabad to attend the OIC-Council of foreign ministers\u2019 meeting as a special guest, Qureshi expressed satisfaction at the steady upward trajectory of Pakistan-China relations.
\nHe highlighted that the leaders\u2019 consensus is translating into high-quality development of CPEC Phase-II, and burgeoning cooperation in diverse areas of cooperation like industrial development, agricultural modernisation and information technology.
\nThe foreign minister thanked China for hosting the meetings on Afghanistan. He emphasised deeper engagement between Pakistan and China, as well as Afghanistan\u2019s other neighbours, to promote peace, stability and development in the country and facilitate regional connectivity through the extension of CPEC to Afghanistan.
\nMeanwhile, during a meeting with Iranian Foreign Minister Dr Hossein Amir Abdollahian, Qureshi while referring to the frequent high-level exchanges reaffirmed Pakistan\u2019s desire to strengthen bilateral cooperation in all areas.
\nHe expressed the hope that the Joint Economic Commission session would be held at the earliest to boost trade and economic collaboration. The foreign minister expressed satisfaction on the facilitative movement of trucks under TIR, which would further strengthen economic linkages in the region.
\nThe foreign minister also underscored the importance of earliest completion of border markets in the context of enhanced bilateral economic cooperation. Qureshi appreciated Iran\u2019s steadfast support for the Kashmir cause, especially at the supreme leader level.
\nThe foreign minister also briefed on the unprovoked violation of Pakistan\u2019s airspace by an Indian supersonic missile, underlining that such actions were fraught with grave implications and represented a serious threat to regional peace and stability.
\nOn the situation in Afghanistan, Qureshi highlighted that as neighbours, Pakistan and Iran have been closely coordinating. Pakistan would continue to play its role for political and economic stability of Afghanistan, which would ultimately benefit the entire region.
\nDr Abdollahian reaffirmed Iran\u2019s desire to further strengthen fraternal ties in diverse areas of bilateral cooperation. He also extended an invitation to the foreign minister to visit Iran to carry forward the process of expansion of bilateral relations. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Discusses economic, security cooperation with Chinese FM: reaffirms Pakistan\u2019s desire to strengthen bilateral cooperation with Iran HUANGSHAN Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi has conveyed Pakistan\u2019s readiness to Russia to reinforce efforts for a diplomatic solution, including through the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) platform, to resolve conflict between Moscow and Kyiv. Foreign Minister Qureshi said […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":252196,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[5489,812,5488],"class_list":{"0":"post-252166","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-top-news","8":"tag-diplomatic-efforts","9":"tag-fm-qureshi","10":"tag-moscow-kyiv-crisis"},"yoast_head":"\n