ISLAMABAD: Croatian Foreign and European Affairs Minister Gordan Grlić Radman arrived in Islamabad today, Thursday, for the first-ever official visit by a Croatian foreign minister as Islamabad seeks to expand political and economic engagement with European Union member states.
The landmark visit comes as Pakistan looks to strengthen ties with Europe through greater trade, investment and diplomatic cooperation. Croatia, which joined the European Union in 2013, has increasingly sought to expand its engagement beyond the bloc, while Pakistan has been working to deepen economic and political partnerships with European countries.
“This will be the first-ever visit by a Croatian Foreign Minister to Pakistan,” Pakistan’s foreign ministry said.
Radman will hold talks with Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar on the full spectrum of bilateral relations, the statement added.
The discussions will focus on expanding cooperation in trade, investment, visa facilitation, education, defense, information technology and maritime affairs, while the two ministers will also exchange views on regional and global developments of mutual interest, the foreign affairs ministry said in a statement.
During the visit, Radman is also scheduled to call on Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Chairman Senate Yousaf Raza Gilani, according to the foreign ministry.
Pakistan and Croatia established diplomatic relations in 1992, but political engagement has remained limited.
Croatia is represented in Pakistan through its embassy in Tehran, while Pakistan maintains diplomatic representation in Croatia through its embassy in Sarajevo and an honorary consulate in Zagreb.
