Parliamentary diplomacy vital for harmony among nations: NA speaker

Parliamentary diplomacy vital for harmony among nations: NA speaker
APP50-24 ISLAMABAD: April 24 - Speaker National Assembly Asad Qaiser in a meeting with French Parliamentary delegation headed by Vice President of Foreign Affairs Committee and Chairman French-Pakistan Parliamentary Group Senator Pascal Allizard at Parliament House. APP

ISLAMABAD, April 24 (APP):National Assembly Speaker Asad Qaiser Wednesday said Pakistan and France enjoyed friendly relations and both countries had commonality of views on major issues and challenges faced by the world.
He expressed these views while talking with delegation of French parliamentarians, called on him under the leadership of Vice President of Foreign Affairs Committee and French-Pakistan Parliamentary Friendship Group Chairman Senator Pascal Allizard in Parliament House.
He said Pakistan and France needed cooperation and coordination to resolve these challenges.
He further said Pakistan and France were tied in mutual bond of trade, business and economic cooperation.
The speaker said he had established largest number of parliamentary friendship groups in the National Assembly keeping in view the effectiveness of intra-parliamentary coordination and cooperation.
Stressing on the need to strengthen the parliamentary friendship groups, he expressed his desire that parliaments of both the countries should further enhance mutual friendly relations.
He expressed his desire that both countries should improve their relations via trade, business and economic sectors.
He said Pakistan had vast opportunities of investment in the fields of energy, infrastructure, agriculture and industry.
“Pakistan and France business alliance should be strengthened while protecting the mutual economic interests,” the speaker added.
He said Pakistan had been facing the scourge of terrorism with bravery and courage and “we can feel the pain inflicted by terrorism in France”.
Terrorism and extremism was threat to regional and world peace and the comity of nations need close cooperation to eradicate this menace,” he added.
He mentioned that Pakistan was striving to implement Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in letter and spirit and a state-of-the-art SDGs secretariat had been established in National Assembly.
“Climate is a major issue for all and we have made our parliament “green” by installation of solar power plant,” he said.
He further said women parliamentarian caucus had been established to have pro-women legislation and policies in the country.
Senator Pascal Allizard and French parliamentarians agreed with the proposal of intra parliamentary coordination to resolve all issues faced by the world.
He said France was especially interested in the promotion of democracy and strengthening the democratic institutions in Pakistan.
He expressed his interest to cooperate in the field of education, energy, agriculture and infrastructure.
Pak-France Friendship Group Convener Amjad Khan Niazi and Foreign Affairs Parliamentary Secretary Andleeb Abbas were also present during the meeting.
Later on, the delegation of Korean parliamentarians led by Soo Hyuck LEE, member of Foreign Affairs and Unification Committee also called on the National Assembly Speaker in the Parliament House.
Asad Qaiser said both countries should enhance their mutual cooperation and trade relations.
He invited the Korean trade and business organizations to invest in Pakistan as the incumbent government was making Pakistan investment friendly nation. “Parliamentarians of both nations should strive for promotion of mutual development,” he added.
He said a large number of Pakistani workers were serving in Korea and there was a need to facilitate them.
He also stressed the need for Korean cooperation in the field of vocational and technical education for the Pakistani students.
The Korean delegation appreciated the role of Pakistani workers in the development and progress of Korea.
They also showed their interest for investing in Pakistan in the field of education, trade, health and infrastructure.
They said Korea highly valued its relations with Pakistan and wanted to strengthen the existing relation through enhanced cooperation in diverse fields.
Foreign Affairs Parliamentary Secretary Andleeb Abbas and Pak-Korean Friendship Group Convener Qaiser Ahmed Sheikh were also present in the meeting.

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