New York (TDI): Pakistan’s Prime Minister, Shehbaz Sharif, and Sri Lankan President, Anura Kumara Dissanayake, met on the sidelines of the 80th Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA).
Both leaders reaffirmed their shared commitment to further strengthen the longstanding relationship between Pakistan and Sri Lanka.
The bilateral meeting highlighted the mutual goodwill and historical ties between the two South Asian nations.
The leaders engaged in a comprehensive discussion covering a wide spectrum of cooperation, including political dialogue, economic collaboration, cultural exchange, education, defense, and people-to-people contacts.
Both Prime Minister Sharif and President Dissanayake expressed satisfaction over the current state of bilateral relations and emphasized the need to build on this strong foundation to expand cooperation in the years ahead.
They underscored the importance of high-level exchanges to foster mutual understanding and unlock new avenues of partnership.
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In particular, the two sides agreed to deepen collaboration in trade and investment, explore new educational opportunities, and enhance defense and security cooperation.
The leaders also discussed regional and global developments of mutual interest, and reiterated their support for continued engagement at international platforms.
Prime Minister Sharif reaffirmed Pakistan’s unwavering commitment to strengthening its ties with Sri Lanka across all domains and appreciated the constructive engagement between the two countries at multilateral forums.
He emphasized that both nations have consistently stood by each other and share a vision for regional peace, development, and prosperity.
An area of particular enthusiasm was sports cooperation, with both leaders agreeing to promote greater exchanges in cricket, a sport passionately followed in both countries. They acknowledged the role of sports diplomacy in bringing people closer and strengthening cultural ties.
The meeting concluded with a mutual pledge to remain engaged and work closely towards the advancement of bilateral relations, ensuring that the friendship between Pakistan and Sri Lanka continues to grow in depth and scope.
Sohail Majeed
Sohail Majeed is a Special Correspondent at The Diplomatic Insight. He has twelve plus years of experience in journalism & reporting. He covers International Affairs, Diplomacy, UN, Sports, Climate Change, Economy, Technology, and Health.
