ISLAMABAD: Caretaker Minister for Information and Broadcasting and Parliamentary Affairs Murtaza Solangi has said that Pakistan desires to boost diplomatic, political, parliamentary and trade relations with all African countries including Ethiopia.
Speaking during a meeting with Ambassador of Ethiopia to Pakistan Jemal Beker Abdula who called on him on Saturday, he said that engaging Africa was a crucial component of Pakistan’s foreign policy and Pakistani government gives top priority to further strengthen its trade relations with African nations through economic diplomacy.
Matters of mutual interest, including regional and global issues, engaging Africa policy, media collaboration, and bilateral relations between Pakistan and Ethiopia in the areas of politics, economy, and culture came under discussion during the meeting.
Murtaza Solangi said that Pakistan and Ethiopia had long-standing brotherly relations steeped in shared history and mutual interest. The media was imperative for access to information, he said while underscoring the need for strengthening media cooperation between Pakistan and Ethiopia.
He stressed the exchange of media delegations between the two countries that would eventually enable the journalist communities of Pakistan and Ethiopia to learn from each other’s experiences.
He recalled the visit of over 70 Pakistani businessmen to Ethiopia in March and the trip of an Ethiopian delegation to Pakistan this year. There was also a need to arrange media and cultural delegations between the two countries, he added.
The minister acknowledged the economic progress made by Ethiopia in the recent past.
Ambassador Jamal Baker expressed his commitment to strengthening relations between both countries, emphasizing the importance of advancing bilateral relations. He said the establishment of institutional linkages between Pakistan and African countries was essential for reaping the benefits of the Engage Africa Policy.
