On Thursday, Pakistani Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi concluded his two-day visit to Egypt, during which he met with President Abdel Fattah Al Sisi and spoke about enhancing and diversifying bilateral ties. Following the discussion on Wednesday, Al-Sisi celebrated the Pakistan-Egypt partnership, which the Pakistani foreign ministry says is working on several issues, such as “combating terrorism and achieving security and stability.”
Qureshi also spoke of Pakistan’s desire to shift its focus from geo-politics to geo-economics. In furtherance of this vision, the Pakistani leader said that Pakistan is seeking to strengthen economic connectivity and promote the vision of peace and progress across the world. In response, Al-Sisi expressed his interest in bolstering economic cooperation on several fronts, including the port of Gwadar in Pakistan and the Suez Canal Economic Zone.
Following his meeting with Al Sisi, he met with his Egyptian counterpart Sameh Shourky. During the discussion, the two leaders agreed to enhance bilateral collaboration in the fields of “infrastructure development, defence cooperation and joint production, trade, investment, culture, education, media and [television], tourism, agriculture, and Information Technology.” Moreover, they agreed to further their cooperation on maritime issues by sharing their experiences and capabilities.
Thereafter, he met with several Egyptian investors, including officials from the country’s Federation of Egyptian Chambers of Commerce and the Federation of Egyptian Chambers. During this discussion, he urged them to increase their investment in Pakistan, specifically in housing, energy, and health. He highlighted the advantages of such ventures and educated them about the benefits offered to foreign investors by the Pakistani government.
Concluding his visit, Qureshi met with the Secretary-General of the Arab League, Ahmed Aboul Gheit. During the discussion, he said that Pakistan wishes to enhance its partnership with the Arab League, with whom it shares “deep bonds of shared faith, culture and values” along with “strong political, security, trade, and diaspora linkages.” The Pakistani FM celebrated the efforts made by the grouping to further the vision of peace in its neighbouring country Afghanistan. He also raised the issue of Jammu and Kashmir and its related conflict with India. Meanwhile, Gheit voiced his “deep appreciation” for the historic friendship between Pakistan and the various members of the Arab League, which he said is grounded on “common interest and cultural, religious, and people ties.”
For Pakistan, bolstering ties with Egypt is crucial, as it seeks to improve its relations with Arab states and establish partnerships in the African continent. However, despite historical and cultural ties, this partnership will not be as easy to achieve as it appears, specifically in light of Pakistan’s growing friendship and Egypt’s growing rivalry with Turkey. Just last week, Egypt attended the first “Philia Forum” or “Friendship Forum”, which saw the participation of foreign ministers from Greece, France, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, and Cyprus. Greece is looking to strengthen its alliances with European and Gulf countries amidst growing tensions with Turkey. Hence, with Pakistan deploying its military resources to assist Turkish forces in their ambitions in the Eastern Mediterranean, this issue could obstruct Pakistan’s vision to use Egypt as a gateway into the Arab and the African world.
Pakistani Foreign Minister Concludes Two-Day Visit to Egypt
During his visit to Egypt, Pakistani FM Shah Mahmood Qureshi met with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah Al Sisi and discussed the need to bolster defence ties and increase foreign investment in Pakistan
February 19, 2021
SOURCE: TWITTER