Brussels (TDI): Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar met with European Council President Antonio Costa on Wednesday to discuss the GSP+ trade scheme, ways to expand economic cooperation, and the broader Pakistan-EU partnership, the Foreign Office said.
Dar arrived in Belgium earlier in the day to participate in the seventh session of the Pakistan-EU Strategic Dialogue, following his visit to Russia for the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit. According to a press release, both sides expressed satisfaction over the “positive trajectory” of bilateral relations and agreed to further strengthen cooperation across multiple sectors.
During the discussions, he acknowledged the European Union’s continued support for Pakistan at both bilateral and multilateral levels. The two delegations reviewed shared interests including trade, economic cooperation, GSP+, and regional and global security developments, while reaffirming their commitment to multilateralism. They agreed to continue working closely to advance common priorities.
Read More: Pakistan, EU Parliamentary Delegation Reaffirm Partnership Under GSP+ Framework
Upon his arrival, Dar was received by Foreign Secretary Amna Baloch, Pakistan’s Ambassador to Belgium, Luxembourg, and the EU Rahim Hayat Qureshi, and other embassy officials. The Foreign Office said Dar will co-chair the Strategic Dialogue at the invitation of Kaja Kallas, the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy. The dialogue serves as the highest-level institutionalised platform between Pakistan and the EU, reviewing cooperation under the Pakistan-EU Strategic Engagement Plan 2019.
He is also scheduled to participate in the 4th EU Indo-Pacific Ministerial Forum, alongside bilateral meetings and engagements with senior EU officials on the sidelines of the forum. The Foreign Office described his visit as a “significant milestone” in Pakistan-EU relations, underscoring Islamabad’s commitment to a comprehensive and mutually beneficial partnership with the EU.
Read More: Pakistan, EU Reaffirm Trade Ties Under GSP+ Framework
Before arriving in Belgium, Dar led the Pakistani delegation to the SCO Council of Heads of Government (CHG) meeting in Moscow. The CHG, the second-highest decision-making body within the SCO, oversees cooperation in areas such as economy, trade, connectivity, finance, commerce, and socio-economic development, and issues joint statements and decisions.
He expressed gratitude to the Russian government for hosting the summit and appreciated the support of the Pakistani embassy and the Foreign Office for facilitating his visit.
At the SCO summit, Dar held bilateral meetings with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin, and Chinese Premier Li Qiang. With Lavrov, he reviewed the full spectrum of Pakistan-Russia relations and described the current trajectory of ties as “positive.” The two sides also discussed regional and international issues and pledged to strengthen coordination in multilateral forums, including the UN and the SCO.
He also held an informal discussion with Qatari Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, exchanging views on bilateral ties and regional cooperation priorities.
