ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s foreign minister Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari co-chaired the inaugural session of a high-profile meeting under the framework of Saudi-Pakistan Supreme Coordination Committee with his counterpart Prince Faisal bin Farhan in Riyadh on Thursday, said an official statement released in Islamabad, to discuss a number of political and security issues.
The foreign minister arrived in Saudi Arabia on a two-day visit on Wednesday only a few days after Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman held a meeting on the sidelines of a UN climate summit in Egypt.
According to the statement issued by the foreign office, he reiterated Pakistan’s firm support for the kingdom’s safety and security. Bhutto-Zardari also emphasized the importance of continued coordination between the two countries to combat activities of terrorist groups that aim to undermine regional stability.
“The Foreign Minister also highlighted the need to further strengthen institutionalized linkages between the two countries to counter threats in the security domain, including cybersecurity, counter terrorism and its financing, organized crimes, drug trafficking and money laundering,” said the foreign office.
Pakistan foreign minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari (left) poses for a photograph with his Saudi counterpart Faisal bin Farhan (right) after the meeting at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on November 10, 2022. (Photo courtesy: Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs)
It added the foreign minister expressed satisfaction over the existing military and defense relations between the two countries and “underscored Pakistan’s commitment to further bolster cooperation in this area.”
The Pakistani foreign minister also held a meeting with the secretary-general of Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Dr. Nayef Falah M. Al-Hajjraf in Riyadh.
He said the GCC was an important player in the region that could play a vital role in further expanding political and economic ties between Pakistan and other regional actors.
“The foreign minister and the Secretary-General reviewed the status of Pakistan’s ongoing engagements and cooperation with the GCC and its member states,” said another statement, adding the foreign minister also highlighted the need for early finalization of the ongoing negotiations on the Pakistan-GCC free trade agreements and asked technical teams from both sides to synergize efforts to achieve the common objective.
Pakistan foreign minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari and his Saudi counterpart Faisal bin Farhan hold the first ministerial meeting at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on November 10, 2022. (Photo courtesy: Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs)
