Caretaker Minister for Information and Broadcasting and Parliamentary Affairs Murtaza Solangi has said that Pakistan wants to further strengthen diplomatic, political, parliamentary, and trade relations with all countries in Africa, including Ethiopia.
In a meeting with Ethiopian Ambassador to Pakistan Jemal Beker Abdula, the minister said engaging Africa was a crucial component of Pakistan’s foreign policy. It was the priority of the government of Pakistan to further strengthen its trade relations with African nations through economic diplomacy, he added.
During the meeting, they discussed matters of mutual interest, including regional and global issues, Engaging Africa policy, media collaboration, and bilateral relations between Pakistan and Ethiopia in the areas of politics, economy, and culture.
The minister said Pakistan and Ethiopia had long-standing brotherly relations steeped in shared history and mutual interest. The media was imperative for access to information, he said while underscoring the need for strengthening media cooperation between Pakistan and Ethiopia.
Solangi stressed the exchange of media delegations between the two countries that would eventually enable the journalist communities of Pakistan and Ethiopia to learn from each other’s experiences.
He recalled the visit of over 70 Pakistani businessmen to Ethiopia in March and the trip of an Ethiopian delegation to Pakistan this year. There was also a need to arrange media and cultural delegations between the two countries, he added.
The minister acknowledged the economic progress made by Ethiopia in the recent past.
Ambassador Jamal Baker, during the meeting, expressed his commitment to strengthening relations between both countries, emphasizing the importance of advancing bilateral relations. He said the establishment of institutional linkages between Pakistan and African countries was essential for reaping the benefits of the Engage Africa Policy.
Source: APP
