Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif met with the President of the French Republic Emmanuel Macron on the sidelines of the 77th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York, today. The two leaders reviewed bilateral relations and exchanged views on regional and international issues.
The Prime Minister reaffirmed the high importance Pakistan attached to its long-standing friendly relations with France, both bilaterally and in the context of European Union. The Prime Minister stressed the importance of further strengthening these relations across a range of areas – includingtrade and investment, energy, agriculture, IT, defence and security, and higher education. The Prime Minister also thanked France for its support for GSP+ scheme, noting that it served to enhance trade and economic ties with EU as well as France.
The Prime Minister apprised the French President of thedevastation caused by the massive climate-induced floods across Pakistan and the government’s steps to address the dire situation. In this regard, the Prime Minister expressed gratitude to the French President for solidarity and support for the flood-affectedpeople and for sending timely assistance of tents, water pumps and a team of doctors and nurses. The Prime Minister hoped that France would also contribute to the government’s efforts in the rehabilitation and reconstruction phase.
The Prime Minister added that despite having negligible contribution to global carbon footprint, Pakistan was among the most vulnerable to its devastation as manifested in the unprecedented floods. The Prime Minister stressed that climate change was a potential area of cooperation between the two countries and for collective global action.
The two leaders agreed to closely work together to identify ways and means to support Pakistan in its efforts to come out of this formidable challenge and build back a resilient infrastructure with the help of international support.
The two leaders agreed to remain in close contact.
*-*-*-*-*
