ISLAMABAD: Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi has said that Pakistan wants to enhance bilateral cooperation in trade, investment and multilateral fields with African countries, including Ivory Coast.

In a telephonic conversation with his counterpart from Ivory Coast Kandia Kamisuko Kemara, the two ministers discussed issues of mutual interest, including bilateral cooperation in various fields, according to a statement of the Foreign Office.

Qureshi told Kemara that Pakistan attaches special importance to bilateral relations with Ivory Coast.

The foreign minister welcomed promotion of bilateral cooperation between Pakistan and Ivory Coast at international fora.

The two foreign ministers agreed to make joint efforts to further strengthen bilateral cooperation at the international forums.

“Pakistan has the honour of sending 11,690 peacekeepers to Ivory Coast under the UN peacekeeping mission, from 2004 to 2016,” Qureshi said.

“We look forward to enhancing bilateral cooperation in trade, investment and multilateral fields with African countries, including Ivory Coast, under economic diplomacy,” the foreign minister further stated.

He pointed out that so far 10 diplomats of Ivory Coast have received practical training in diplomacy from Pakistan’s Foreign Service Academy.

In her conversation, the statement added the Ivory Coast foreign minister appreciated Pakistan’s move to open embassy in Ivory Coast.

The two foreign ministers welcomed the move that by the end of this year, Pakistan’s first ambassador would be posted in Ivory Coast.

Ivory Coast foreign minister appreciated Pakistan’s assistance in various fields and thanked Foreign Minister Qureshi.

Foreign Minister Qureshi also invited the Ivorian foreign minister to visit Pakistan, which she accepted, the statement added.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2021