FM Qureshi leaves for Germany on two-day visit

Minister will meet officials and diplomats, highlight Pakistan's views on regional, international issues

ISLAMABAD:

Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi left for Berlin on Sunday on a two-day visit to Germany.

Qureshi will meet his German counterpart Heiko Maas, who has invited him to the visit, president of the German parliament Wolfgang Schauble and other German officials and diplomats.

The foreign minister is to exchange views on bilateral relations, collaboration in various sectors and other matters of mutual interest.

Qureshi will also speak with the local and international media, wherein he will shed light on Pakistan's point of view on the regional and international issues.

He is also to visit the Pakistan High Commission in Berlin and meet the representatives of the Pakistani community there.

The visit is expected to help enhance collaboration in various sectors and the scope of relations between the two countries. It is the first ever visit by any Pakistani foreign minister to the country since 2012.

Speaking before his departure, the foreign minister said Pakistan enjoyed cordial relations with Germany.

Read German firms urged to explore Pakistani market

He termed the country Pakistan's most important trading partner in the European Union.

The foreign minister added that he will apprise the German leadership about the regional situation, Afghan peace process and peace and security environment of South Asia, expressing confidence that the visit will be fruitful.

The development comes as this year, Pakistan and Germany are celebrating the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations. Both countries are planning to undertake a number of activities in this context.

The two countries have been collaborating closely on regional matters and at the multilateral fora. Germany is the largest trading partner of Pakistan in the EU, and is also home to over 100,000 Pakistani diaspora.

Last month, German Ambassador to Pakistan Bernhard Stephan Schlagheck, during a visit to the Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry, assured apprising German companies and investors about the potential sectors and opportunities available in Pakistan to bring business communities of both the countries closer.

The German ambassador said that he would assist the business communities of the two countries looking forward to improving bilateral relations and sought advice and recommendation of the business community to promote trade and investment.