Member of the German Bundestag, Mr. Christoph Schmid called on Deputy Speaker National Assembly, Syed Ghulam Mustafa Shah at the Parliament House on Tuesday.
Memeber of German Parliament calls on Mustafa Shah
ISLAMABAD, Sep 01 (APP): Member of the German Bundestag, Mr. Christoph Schmid called on Deputy Speaker National Assembly, Syed Ghulam Mustafa Shah at the Parliament House on Tuesday.
The matters pertaining to bilateral relations between Pakistan and Germany, parliamentary cooperation, economic engagement and important regional issues were discussed in the meeting.
While extending a warm welcome to Christoph Schmid, Deputy Speaker said that Pakistan attaches great importance to its longstanding friendly relations with Germany.
He said that Pakistan and Germany enjoy cordial relations based on mutual respect, trust and cooperation in diverse fields, with considerable potential for further strengthening bilateral ties.
The Deputy Speaker said that parliamentary delegations and exchanges between the two countries had remained active in the past; however, such engagement had declined following the COVID-19 pandemic.
He underscored the need to revive and further strengthen interaction between the Parliaments of Pakistan and Germany, observing that parliamentary diplomacy could play an important role in further consolidating bilateral relations.
Mustafa Shah recalled the visit of the then Speaker of the German Bundestag, Prof. Dr. Norbert Lammert, to Pakistan in 2014 and described it as an important milestone in parliamentary relations between the two countries.
He noted that interactions and exchanges with representatives from different segments of Pakistani society during the visit had contributed significantly towards strengthening mutual understanding and people-to-people contacts.
The Deputy Speaker appreciated Germany’s humanitarian assistance to Pakistan during the devastating floods of 2010 and acknowledged Germany’s support during natural disasters and other regional challenges.
He said that Pakistan deeply values Germany’s assistance as well as its positive and constructive approach towards regional developments.
Highlighting Pakistan’s natural beauty, rich cultural heritage and geographical and cultural diversity, the Deputy Speaker said that the country offered vast opportunities for investment in tourism and various other economic sectors.
He invited German investors and the business community to explore and benefit from the investment opportunities in Pakistan.
Mr. Christoph Schmid thanked the Deputy Speaker for the warm welcome and hospitality extended to him at Parliament House.
Both leaders agreed that enhanced parliamentary engagement and stronger people-to-people contacts could provide new impetus to bilateral cooperation between Pakistan and Germany.
Mr. Christoph Schmid appreciated Pakistan’s positive and constructive role in promoting peace, dialogue and de-escalation in the region.
In the context of recent tensions in the Middle East, he commended Pakistan’s diplomatic and mediation efforts and said that Pakistan’s initiatives to promote dialogue and engagement among different countries had received attention and appreciation at the international level.
The German parliamentarian said that Pakistan had an important role to play in the promotion of peace and dialogue.
Both leaders reaffirmed their commitment to exploring new avenues for further strengthening parliamentary diplomacy, economic cooperation and people-to-people contacts between Pakistan and Germany.
Special Secretary, Special Initiatives, Syed Shamoon Hashmi, was also present on the occasion.
