Sartaj leads Pakistan delegation to 12th Asia Europe Foreign Ministers’ Meeting

Sartaj leads Pakistan delegation to 12th Asia Europe Foreign Ministers' Meeting

ISLAMABAD, Nov 7 (APP): Advisor to Prime Minister on Foreign
Affairs Sartaj Aziz led Pakistan’s delegation to 12th Foreign
Ministers’ session of Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) which was held in
Luxembourg from November 5 to 6.
The Asia-Europe Meeting is an informal dialogue forum between
Asia and Europe, which addresses political, economic and social
issues, confronting the two regions, aiming at strengthening their
relationship in a spirit of mutual respect and equal partnership.
The Foreign Ministers of these regions discussed the important
issues of climate change, 2030 agenda for sustainable development,
disaster risk reduction and management, connectivity, and the
future of ASEM.
The participants appreciated the ongoing efforts to tackle
climate change and disaster management, and emphasized the need
to focus attention on enhancing connectivity between Asia and
Europe.
Ideas were also expressed on how ASEM could tackle future
challenges, while maintaining its unique informal nature.
In the retreat session, the foreign ministers shared views
on the current regional and international issues. Mongolia announced
to host the next ASEM Summit in July 2016.
In his address on this occasion Sartaj Aziz underscored the
significance of Pakistan in providing a vital link between South
Asia with Central and West Asia, as well as to Europe.
He highlighted several projects, undertaken by Pakistan in
cooperatoin with countries of the region, including inter-alia China Pakistan Economic Corridor, Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India
gas pipeline, CASA-1000, and Torkham-Jalalabad road project.
He urged ASEM members to strengthen connections between Asia
and Europe in education, science and technology, trade, business,
security, culture, infrastructure, and people-to-people contacts.
He expressed the hope that ASEM has a bright future.
Speaking at the retreat session, the Adviser apprised the
meeting of Pakistan’s perspective on important regional and
international issues.
He stressed the importance of an Afghan-led and Afghan-owned
peace process in Afghanistan. He urged the European Union to play
a leading role in finding a durable solution to the Palestinian
question. Underscoring the progress made by Pakistan in countering
terrorism, he called for tackling the root-causes of terrorism.
On migration crisis in Europe, he also urged the EU to look
into the root-causes of migration and address them.
On the margins of ASEM Foreign Ministers meeting, the Adviser
held bilateral meetings with the Foreign Ministers of Japan, Denmark, Germany, Greece, Netherlands, and Senior Minister of State for
Foreign Affairs of Singapore.
He also interacted with European media, Deutsche Welle and
Deutsche Presse-Agentur.

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