PM Shehbaz Sharif returns after attending COP29 in Azerbaijan

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif returned from a three-day official visit to Azerbaijan, according to the Prime Minister’s Office on Wednesday. Azerbaijan’s Minister of Defence, Farid Ahmedov, saw him off at Baku International Airport.

PM Shehbaz attended the COP-29 Climate Action Summit, where he highlighted the climate-related challenges faced by Pakistan and urged major polluting countries to fulfill their financial commitments to address global climate change.

He chaired a Round Table on Climate Finance, stressing the need for sustained support for climate action initiatives. The PM also attended a high-level event on glacier preservation hosted by Tajikistan, where he discussed Pakistan’s ongoing efforts to safeguard its glaciers and water resources.

In addition to the summit, PM Shehbaz held several bilateral meetings with leaders from Denmark and the Czech Republic. He also engaged in informal discussions with the leaders of the UK, UAE, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, and Nepal on the sidelines of COP-29, further strengthening diplomatic ties across diverse regions.

Meanwhile, Pakistan and Azerbaijan pledged to strengthen their strategic partnership, focusing on economic, defence, and cultural cooperation. This commitment was affirmed during a meeting between PM Shehbaz and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev at COP29 on Wednesday.

PM Shehbaz congratulated President Aliyev on the successful organisation of the summit and praised his leadership in promoting international collaboration to tackle climate change.

Highlighting Pakistan's vulnerability to climate change, despite its minimal contribution to global emissions, he reiterated Pakistan’s dedication to addressing climate challenges in partnership with Azerbaijan and the global community.

The leaders also discussed expanding cooperation in technology sharing and renewable energy joint ventures. They exchanged views on the ongoing tensions in the Middle East and other regional and global issues.