He made the remarks in a meeting with European Council President António Luís Santos da Costa and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. The meeting took place on the sidelines of the 81st session of the UN General Assembly.
The three leaders reviewed the whole range of Pakistan-EU relations. They said they were pleased with the growing pace of high-level exchanges between the two sides.
Shehbaz said regular contact at the leadership level would give the relationship clearer direction and more momentum.
He also underlined how much the EU’s GSP Plus trade scheme matters to Pakistan, citing its role in economic development, job creation and trade with the bloc. He reiterated Pakistan’s commitment to continued engagement with the EU under the scheme.
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Von der Leyen said the EU values its partnership with Pakistan. She described the Strategic Engagement Plan as a reflection of the relationship’s breadth and of a shared commitment to democracy, the rule of law, human rights and civic space. She added that the two sides also cooperate on stability and security.
She also thanked the prime minister for Pakistan’s initiative to mediate in the conflict between the United States and Iran. She said Pakistan was playing an important part in supporting de-escalation, dialogue and peaceful resolution of conflicts.
The leaders also exchanged views on regional and global developments. They reaffirmed the importance of dialogue, diplomacy, international law and the peaceful settlement of disputes.
The two sides discussed how to take the partnership forward, including cooperation on trade and efforts to address illegal migration.
Shehbaz repeated his invitation to the presidents of the European Council and the European Commission to visit Pakistan. He said Islamabad wants to work closely with EU leadership to deepen a mutually beneficial partnership.
The meeting comes as the prime minister is in New York for the General Assembly session. He is scheduled to address the gathering on September 25.
