ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and Singapore have reaffirmed their commitment to further deepening their cooperation in diverse fields including trade, investment, disaster management, and people to people contacts.
The commitment was expressed during a joint press stakeout of Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar and visiting Foreign Minister of Singapore Dr. Vivian Balakrishnan in Islamabad on Friday.
In his opening remarks, Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar said that Pakistan and Singapore enjoy long standing and friendly relations focused on mutual respect and goodwill. He said Pakistan was among the first countries to recognize Singapore following its independence in 1965.
The Deputy Prime Minister said the visit of Foreign Minister Dr. Vivian Balakrishnan reflects shared commitment to strengthen friendship and broaden cooperation between Pakistan and Singapore.
He said Pakistan and Singapore during today's talks agreed to hold regular bilateral political consultation and promote high level exchanges to strengthen cooperation between our governments and institutions.
He said economic cooperation was also central to our discussions and both sides welcomed the significant growth in bilateral trade and discussed ways to build on this progress.
Ishaq Dar said Pakistan and Singapore agreed to encourage closer engagement between business communities through exchange of business delegations and stronger links between Chambers of Commerce and in order to facilitate stronger business to business ties.
He said the reopening of Pakistan Trade Investment Office at our High Commission in Singapore, is a testament of Pakistan resolve to promote stronger B2B ties with great friendly country, Singapore.
Ishaq Dar said the two sides also discussed the scope for closer cooperation in education, research and innovation, including digital technologies and artificial intelligence
He said both sides agreed to deepen cooperation in human resource development, agriculture and climate domains and to encourage greater cultural, academic, youth and people to people exchanges.
The Deputy Prime Minister said we look forward to working closely with Singapore in support of its priorities as Chair and to further strengthen Pakistan ASEAN cooperation.
On regional and international issues, Ishaq Dar said both sides reaffirmed the central role of dialogue and diplomacy, respect for international law and adherence to the principles of the UN Charter in addressing regional and global challenges.
The Deputy Prime Minister said he also shared Pakistan's perspective on Palestine and Jammu and Kashmir dispute.
Ishaq Dar said 'On Palestine, I expressed concern over the continued expansion of illegal settlements and efforts to alter the status of the West Bank, and Al-Quds Al-Sharif. I stressed the urgent need for unhindered delivery of humanitarian assistance to the people of Gaza. I reiterated firm support for an independent, sovereign, viable and contiguous State of Palestine, based on pre-June 1967 borders, with Al-Quds Al-Sharif as its capital'.
Ishaq Dar said 'In context of South Asia, I briefed the Foreign Minister on the importance of a just, durable and peaceful settlement of the longstanding Jammu and Kashmir dispute in accordance with the relevant UN Security Council resolutions'.
Ishaq Dar thanked Dr. Vivian Balakrishnan and the Singaporean delegation for their constructive engagement and valuable contribution to our discussions. Ishaq Dar said 'We look forward to working closely with Singapore to carry forward the understandings reached today'.
Ishaq Dar said 'Pakistan-Singapore friendship remains strong and forward-looking. As we mark sixty years of diplomatic relations, we are committed to deepening this partnership and building a more prosperous future for our two peoples'.
In his remarks, Foreign Minister of Singapore emphasized to strengthen bilateral cooperation in business, trade, investment, disaster management, culture, and people to people exchanges, science and technology.
He particularly commended the historic and tremendous mediatory role played by Pakistan in defusing tension and facilitating dialogue to resolve the crisis in the Middle East and Gulf.
On the occasion, the two sides exchanged documents regarding Memorandum of Understanding on cooperation in Disaster Management between National Disaster Management Authority of Pakistan and Singapore Civil Defence Force.