ANTALYA:Prime Minister of Pakistan, Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif met President of Finland Alexander Stubb on Thursday on the sidelines of the 31st Conference of the Parties (COP31) in Anatalya, Turkiye. The meeting provided an opportunity to review Pakistan-Finland relations and strengthening cooperation in areas of mutual interest.

The Prime Minister reaffirmed Pakistan's desire to translate the longstanding and friendly relations into a forward-looking partnership encompassing trade and investment, education and skills development, technology, climate resilience and people-to-people contacts.

The Prime Minister noted the considerable potential to increase bilateral trade and welcomed the presence of Finnish companies including Nokia, Wärtsilä, Metso and Vaisala in Pakistan. He encouraged greater business-to-business engagement, technology transfer and investment in telecommunications, advanced manufacturing, clean technologies and mining.

The two leaders exchanged views on climate change, disaster risk reduction and environmental cooperation. The Prime Minister expressed interest in Finnish technical expertise in flood forecasting, water management, climate-resilient agriculture, glacier monitoring and early-warning systems.

Underlining the importance of dialogue, mediation and peaceful settlement, the two leaders exchanged views on ongoing diplomatic efforts for peaceful and durable solutions to the conflicts in Ukraine and West Asia. President Stubb appreciated Pakistan's role in facilitating dialogue and mediation between Iran and the United States.

The two leaders reaffirmed the importance of maintaining regular engagement and exploring practical avenues to deepen bilateral cooperation. The Prime Minister reiterated the invitation to President Stubb to undertake an official visit to Pakistan at a mutually convenient time.