Islamabad: Chairman Senate Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani has called for increased collaboration between Pakistan and Spain in diverse sectors as the two countries share commonalities and both have a shared vision for peace and sustainable development. The Chairman Senate expressed these views in a meeting with a four-member parliamentary delegation of the Spanish Senate at Parliament House.
According to Senate of Pakistan, the Chairman Senate welcomed the delegation and termed the relations between Pakistan and Spain as historic. However, he observed that there is still a significant scope for further deepening mutual collaboration in various sectors. He recognized the longstanding diplomatic ties between Pakistan and Spain, rooted in mutual respect and shared values, and emphasized that this visit marks a valuable opportunity to explore avenues for productive collaboration.
Recalling his visit to Spain in 2010 as Prime Minister, Gilani highlighted the productive dialogue with Spanish and EU officials regarding Pakistan’s textile industry, which led to the EU’s special trade package to boost Pakistani textile exports. He mentioned the visit to WTO headquarters and the discussions on expanding Pakistan’s access to international markets, aligning with Pakistan’s broader economic goals. He emphasized that the EU trade concessions were a milestone, facilitated by support from Spain, providing significant economic benefits to Pakistan’s textile industry.
Gilani also highlighted the importance of inter-parliamentary relations in strengthening bilateral ties and commended the Spanish Senate for prioritizing diplomatic outreach with Pakistan. He underlined the need to continue parliamentary interaction, especially through parliamentary friendship groups and other higher levels, to promote people-to-people contacts and strengthen democratic institutions.
Emphasizing trade relations, Gilani mentioned key exports such as textiles and agricultural products and called for further encouraging investment in sectors like renewable energy, tourism, and agriculture. He suggested increased cultural and educational exchanges to foster mutual understanding between the people of both countries and acknowledged the positive role of the Pakistani diaspora in Spain in enhancing bilateral relations.
The Chairman Senate also informed the delegation about the situations in Gaza, Kashmir, and Palestine. He expressed interest in benefiting from Spanish expertise in olive production, sports, and other sectors, noting the potential for cooperation in the IT sector, given that 65% of Pakistan’s population comprises youth.
Leader of the delegation Vincente Azpitarte Perez agreed with the Chairman’s views on diversifying mutual collaboration and exploring new avenues for cooperation, expressing his delight to visit Pakistan. The Chairman was accompanied by Senators Anusha Rahman and Agha Shahzaib Durrani during the meeting, who also welcomed the delegation.
In conclusion, Gilani briefed the delegation about the role, functions, and historical evolution of the Upper House of Pakistan and called for enhanced tourism linkages, trade cooperation, and exploring opportunities to benefit from Spain’s expertise in renewable energy.