Pakistan and Austria on Monday expressed commitment to working together more closely to further strengthen the bilateral relationship in diverse fields including economic cooperation, trade and investment, tourism, hospitality, education, IT, healthcare and human resource development and mobility.
To this end, the both sides agreed to work for the early finalisation of MoUs under consideration related to these areas, the PM Office said in a handout.
The understanding in this regard came during a delegation-level talks between Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif and Federal Chancellor of Austria Christian Stocker at the Federal Chancellery in the historic Hofburg Palace in Vienna.
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar, Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Attaullah Tarar, Special Assistant to Prime Minister Syed Tariq Fatemi as well as Foreign Secretary Ambassador Amna Baloch were also present on this occasion.
During the delegation-level meeting, PM Shehbaz and Federal Chancellor Stocker recalled the friendly and historic ties between the two countries. Earlier, the two leaders also held a restricted meeting.
Both sides exchanged views on regional and global developments, and agreed on the central role of the United Nations in addressing the challenges of peace and security, peaceful settlement of disputes, sustainable development, climate action and protection and promotion of human rights as well.
They expressed their shared commitment to multilateralism, and appreciated mutual support for each other’s candidatures, while working together with the international community for strengthening the UN system.
The prime minister and the federal chancellor of Austria also co-chaired a forum of CEOs of leading Austrian and Pakistani companies working in renewable energies, energy efficiency, industrial manufacturing and construction, IT, textiles, surgical equipment, leather and sports products, healthcare, tourism and hospitality and food and agro-industries.
It was agreed to expand G2G, G2B and B2B engagements between the two countries through the effective utilization of the existing platforms.
The prime minister invited the Austrian businesses and companies to participate in the upcoming EU-Pakistan Business Forum to be held in Islamabad in April this year.
PM Shehbaz thanked the federal chancellor for the meaningful and productive meetings during the visit, that would lend fresh impetus to bilateral ties. He extended an invitation to the federal chancellor to undertake an official visit to Pakistan, at his earliest convenience.
Earlier, upon his arrival at the Federal Chancellery, the premier was received by Chancellor Stocker and welcomed by an impressive guard of honour ceremony. He also inscribed his comments in the Guest Book.
The national anthems of Pakistan and Austria were played.
Both leaders introduced their respective delegations to each other before proceeding for tête-à-tête and the delegation-level talks.
Separately, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif called for a new phase of economic, cultural, and strategic cooperation between Pakistan and Austria while addressing the Austrian cabinet and senior government officials in Vienna.
“It is a great pleasure to meet you again,” the prime minister said, recalling their discussions last year in New York. He noted that he had been particularly impressed by the Chancellor’s interest in strengthening bilateral ties.
He also highlighted the importance of cultural cooperation in fostering goodwill between the two nations, referencing collaborative cultural initiatives supported by Austrian partners. Such efforts, he said, play a vital role in deepening people-to-people connections.
Prime Minister Sharif emphasized that Pakistan is open for business and ready to embark on a new chapter in its partnership with Austria. He noted that his administration has taken significant steps to improve Pakistan’s investment climate and encouraged Austrian firms to explore the country’s vast economic potential across various sectors.
The prime minister also expressed sincere appreciation for Austria’s support within the European Union framework, particularly regarding the Generalized Scheme of Preferences (GSP), which has facilitated Pakistani exports to European markets.