ISLAMABAD, Pakistan: The two-day 5th Round of Bilateral Political Consultations between Pakistan and Sudan was held on April 19-20, 2017 in Khartoum in which the entire gambit of bilateral relations and identified opportunities for further strengthening cooperation, especially in economic, trade, investment, cultural, and educational fields was reviewed.
The Pakistani side was led by the Additional Secretary (Middle East & Africa) of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Tasawar Khan while the Under Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Sudan Ambassador Abd Elghani Elnaim Awad Elkarim led the Sudanese delegation.
The talks were held in a cordial and congenial atmosphere, according to a foreign office statement issued in Islamabad on Monday.
The meeting also discussed the possibilities of cooperation in health & agriculture fields.
A number of draft agreements and Memorandum of Understandings (MoUs) on Trade & Investment, Cooperation between Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP) and Sudan as well as Visa Abolition Agreement between the two countries were also considered.
It was agreed that the 3rd meeting of Pakistan-Sudan Joint Ministerial Commission would be held in Islamabad from November 15-16, 2017.
The Sudanese side reiterated its invitation for the President of Pakistan to pay an official visit to Sudan at an early date.
The two sides also exchanged views on regional and international issues concerning the two countries.
During the visit, the additional secretary also called on 1st Vice President and Prime Minister of the Republic of Sudan Lt. General Bakri Hassan Salih Khairi and handed over a message of felicitations from the Prime Minister of Pakistan upon his appointment as Prime Minister of Sudan. He also called on the Foreign Minister of Sudan Professor Ibrahim Ghandour.
The Sudan’s prime minister briefed the Sudanese dignitaries on Pakistan’s economic progress and development and the contribution made by China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) in this regard. He also briefed them on regional issues and Pakistan’s relations with the neighbouring countries.
Bakri Hassan Salih thanked his Pakistani Counterpart Nawaz Sharif and extended a cordial invitation for an official visit to Sudan at his earliest convenience.
Pakistan and Sudan enjoy close and cordial relations and consider Annual Bilateral Political Consultations a useful forum to review progress in cooperation in various fields, identify opportunities for future strengthening bilateral relations.
The next round of Bilateral Political Consultations will be held in Islamabad on mutually convenient dates.
