RIYADH: Pakistan and France have agreed to strengthen bilateral cooperation through business-to-business contacts in the areas of agriculture, livestock, Information Technology, skills development, and clean drinking water.
Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and French President Emmanuel Macron expressed the resolve during a meeting on the sidelines of the One Water Summit in Riyadh on Tuesday.
Both the leaders reiterated the shared desire of the two sides to remain closely engaged on all regional and international issues of common interest.
The two leaders also exchanged views on the full spectrum of the Pakistan-France relationship, including political, economic, trade, and investment, as well as cooperation at multilateral forums, including the United Nations.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif stressed the need to further strengthen mutually advantageous economic and trade ties between the two countries.
He encouraged France to take advantage of investment opportunities in Pakistan, especially in areas of climate adaptation and renewable energy.
He lauded France’s leadership role on climate change and development issues and appreciated President Macron’s support for the people of Pakistan in the wake of the 2022 devastating floods.
He also warmly congratulated President Macron on the successful co-hosting of the One Water Summit in Riyadh.
Pakistan PM urges global action to tackle water scarcity
Meanwhile, during his address at the One Water Summit, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif called upon the international community to take practical steps to safeguard water resources.
Shehbaz Sharif emphasised that water scarcity is the world’s biggest challenge and requires urgent measures.
He underscored the need to preserve water resources, adding that water shortages are exacerbating drought-like conditions. He also mentioned the devastation caused by the 2022 floods in Pakistan.
The prime minister commended the Crown Prince and Prime Minister of Saudi Arabia, Mohammed bin Salman for his Vision 2030 initiative and other climate-related efforts.
Earlier, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif reached Saudi Arabia on a two-day visit to attend the ‘One Water Summit’. The summit is a collaborative event organised by Saudi Arabia, France, Kazakhstan, and the World Bank.
Prince Muhammad bin Abdul Rahman bin Abdulaziz, the Deputy Governor of Riyadh, along with Pakistan’s Ambassador to Saudi Arabia and other senior diplomatic officials welcomed the prime minister upon arriving at Riyadh’s Royal Airport Terminal.
The prime minister will also address a roundtable conference, focusing on measures to improve water quality and create livelihoods.
