Brexit will open new opportunities for trade between Pakistan, UK: FM Qureshi

British FM calls Qureshi; both leaders agree to hold 4th round of enhanced strategic dialogue

Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi has hoped that Brexit would open new opportunities for trade and development between Pakistan and United Kingdom.

Foreign Minister Makhdoom Shah Mahmood Qureshi received a telephone call from British Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, Jeremy Hunt on Tuesday, read an official statement.

FM Shah Mahmood Qureshi held a telephonic conversation with 🇬🇧 Secretary of State for Foreign and #Commonwealth Affairs Jeremy Hunt. B/l and regional issues of interest discussed. Cooperation in ML, prisoner exchange, security and CT discussed among b/l trade and economy. @FCO pic.twitter.com/nJZUe9ZqZy

— Ministry of Foreign Affairs - Pakistan (@ForeignOfficePk) December 11, 2018

FM Qureshi appreciated the expanded bilateral cooperation and stressed that the UK was an important trade and investment partner of Pakistan.

The two foreign ministers, the communique added, discussed a wide range of regional and bilateral issues of mutual interest and expressed satisfaction at the current state of relations.

They also agreed to hold the 4th round of Pakistan-UK Enhanced Strategic Dialogue in the first quarter of 2019 in London.

The two leaders also expressed satisfaction at the finalization of Protocol on Transfer of Prisoners between Pakistan and UK, which would be signed shortly.

They reaffirmed their commitment to enhance bilateral cooperation, particularly in the spheres of regional security, counter-terrorism, organised crime, money laundering and asset recovery.



Later, FM Qureshi received Ambassador Marc Barety of France at the Foreign Office. The two sides appreciated the current trajectory of bilateral relations and agreed to further enhance relations in all areas of mutual interest.

It was agreed that exchange of high level visits were important for further strengthening of bilateral relations. In this regard, the foreign minister stated that Pakistan side looked forward to the visit of President Macron at an early date at the invitation of Prime Minister Imran Khan.

FM Shah Mahmood Qureshi met French Amb Marc Baréty at MoFA today. The FM underscored the need to improve trade and economic relations between the two countries and invited French investors to make use of business friendly policies of #Pakistan@francediplo_EN @francediplo
🇵🇰🇫🇷 pic.twitter.com/gv4pyKrppS

— Ministry of Foreign Affairs - Pakistan (@ForeignOfficePk) December 11, 2018

Qureshi expressed satisfaction at the two-way flow of investment from both sides and welcomed French automaker Renault's decision to manufacture vehicles in Pakistan.

He invited more French businesses to benefit from Pakistan’s investor friendly policies in various sectors. The ambassador conveyed that there were several French companies interested in doing business with Pakistan.

The ambassador assured of France's full support in enhancing cooperation in all fields of mutual interest.

The foreign minister appreciated the developments projects undertaken by the French Development Agency (AFD) in hydro power generation and renovation of Lahore Fort.