France, Pakistan share sustainable development goals: ambassador

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ISLAMABAD: French Ambassador Marc Barety has said that both France and Pakistan defend multilateralism, a balanced globalisation and advocate for sustainable human development, respectful of diversity.

The ambassador said, “I am pleased to share this national celebration with the people of Pakistan, whose generosity, hospitality and dynamism I have witnessed during my travels throughout the country and my daily work in Islamabad.”

He expressed these views on the occasion of National Day of France.

This gathering is a great opportunity for me to thank all of you who played a role in the development and betterment of relations between France and Pakistan, he said.

He said it was also about shared interests in security and regional stability, as highlighted by the work of the last France-Pakistan Joint Security Commission held earlier this month in Islamabad.

The visit of Senator Allizard and his delegation last April, the fourth trip for the senator, was an occasion to discuss the full potential of Pakistan and reciprocally the French availability to continue and increase its contribution to development for the benefit of the greatest number.

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The ambassador said past months have been particularly beneficial in terms of concrete achievements, mostly in terms of the partnership between our two countries and the French ambition to deepen it.

In an area as essential for population like that of access to water and energy, the French Development Agency – AFD - continues to participate actively for green and sustainable development with nearly 700 million euros mobilised in the hydropower sector, urban transports and water. Moreover, AFD has helped finance 94 million euros this year for the treatment of Faisalabad’s water.

The French ambassador said the prosperity of a country depends in particular on the dynamism of its youth, a dynamism conditioned by education and empowerment, favoured by access to culture and ideas.  On all these challenges, French expertise is mobilised in Pakistan.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 17^th, 2019.