ISLAMABAD: The newly appointed Ambassador of the European Union to Pakistan, Dr Riina Kionka called on Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif, here on Thursday.

The Prime Minister underlined that Pakistan attached high importance to its relations with EU as well as its historically close and cooperative bilateral ties with EU member states.

Recalling his recent telephonic conversations with the EU Council President Mr Charles Michel and the President of the European Commission Ms Ursula von der Leyen, the Prime Minister expressed the confidence that the upcoming visits to Pakistan by the EU Parliamentary delegations as well as the next rounds of political and security Dialogues under EU-Pakistan Strategic Engagement Plan would pave the way for more substantive cooperation between the two sides.

He credited the current GSP Plus scheme with enhancing the mutually beneficial trading ties between Pakistan and EU and hoped that Pakistan would continue to be part of the arrangement beyond 2023.

The Prime Minister also underscored the importance of sustained high level exchanges to further strengthen the growing partnership. Noting the 60th anniversary of Pakistan-EU relations this year, the Prime Minister stressed that this milestone should be commemorated by both sides in a fitting manner.

The Prime Minister stressed the importance of a peaceful and stable Afghanistan as well as highlighted the unprecedented level of cooperation that Pakistan had extended to the international community in regard to Afghanistan, especially since the developments of August last year. Dr Riina Kionka thanked the Prime Minister for receiving her and expressed her resolve to work for further deepening of EU-Pakistan relations during her tenure in Islamabad.