ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and Singapore have pledged to enhance their collaborative efforts across multiple sectors, including trade, investment, disaster management, and fostering people-to-people connections. This commitment was highlighted during a joint press conference held by Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar and Singapore’s visiting Foreign Minister Dr. Vivian Balakrishnan in Islamabad.
According to Radio Pakistan, Deputy Prime Minister Dar emphasized the longstanding friendly relations between the two nations, characterized by mutual respect and goodwill. He noted that Pakistan was among the first countries to recognize Singapore following its independence in 1965. The visit of Singapore’s Foreign Minister was seen as a reflection of the shared commitment to strengthening the friendship and broadening cooperation between the two countries.
During the talks, both sides agreed to conduct regular bilateral political consultations and promote high-level exchanges to enhance cooperation between their governments and institutions. Economic cooperation was a central theme, with discussions focusing on building upon the significant growth in bilateral trade. Both countries expressed a desire to promote closer engagement between their business communities through the exchange of business delegations and stronger links between their Chambers of Commerce.
The reopening of Pakistan’s Trade Investment Office at its High Commission in Singapore was highlighted as a testament to Pakistan’s resolve to promote stronger business-to-business ties with Singapore. The discussions also covered the potential for closer cooperation in education, research, innovation, digital technologies, and artificial intelligence. Both sides agreed to deepen cooperation in human resource development, agriculture, and climate domains, and to encourage greater cultural, academic, youth, and people-to-people exchanges.
In addressing regional and international issues, Deputy Prime Minister Dar reaffirmed the importance of dialogue, diplomacy, respect for international law, and adherence to the principles of the UN Charter in addressing regional and global challenges. He shared Pakistan’s perspectives on the Palestine and Jammu and Kashmir disputes, reiterating support for an independent and sovereign state of Palestine and stressing the importance of a just settlement of the Jammu and Kashmir issue.
Foreign Minister Balakrishnan of Singapore highlighted the importance of strengthening bilateral cooperation in various fields, commending Pakistan’s mediatory role in defusing tensions in the Middle East and Gulf. The two sides also exchanged documents pertaining to a Memorandum of Understanding on cooperation in disaster management between Pakistan’s National Disaster Management Authority and the Singapore Civil Defence Force.