FM Qureshi, Josep Borrel co-chair 6th round of Pakistan-eu Strategic Dialogue

Foreign Minister Makhdoom Shah Mahmood Qureshi and High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Vice President Josep Borrel co-chaired the 6th round of Pakistan-eu Strategic Dialogue here on Tuesday.

During the strategic dialogue, multi-dimensional bilateral relations between Pakistan and the European Union were discussed in detail. Implementation of the project of strategic partnership agreed between Pakistan and EU was also reviewed during the dialogue. Besides discussing in detail bilateral trade, investment and other related matters, the two sides also exchanged views about the matters concerning regional peace and stability including the situation in Afghanistan.

Foreign Minister Qureshi said as the next year will mark 60th anniversary of Pakistan-eu friendship, his country desired to celebrate this auspicious occasion jointly in Islamabad.

He said today’s dialogue depicted the commitment to further strengthen and broaden the existing Pakistan-eu Strategic Partnership. Pakistan and the

European Union (EU) reaffirmed their resolve to protect human rights as well as fundamental freedoms, focusing on freedom of religion, religious tolerance and peaceful coexistence, and rights of minorities.

As per the details of the meeting, FM Qureshi expressed concerns at the rising trends of Islamophobic acts, xenophobia and religious intolerance in the world and the need for common resolve to counter them.

The EU official, on the other hand, raised concerns over the death penalty and the misuse of Pakistan’s blasphemy laws in the wake of a lynching of a Sri Lankan national in Sialkot over allegations of blasphemy.

However, Borrell appreciated Pakistan for passing the Protection of Journalists and Media Professionals Bill and hoped that the Anti-torture Bill and other human rights-related legislation would be adopted soon. Qureshi and Borrell also expressed a strong political commitment towards the GSP+ and the implementation of 27 international conventions on human rights, labour rights, protection of the environment and good governance that are linked to the trade treaty.