VIENNA: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Austrian Federal Chancellor Christian Stocker here agreed to strengthen relations between their countries, focusing on a wide range of sectors.
Their meeting, held in Vienna on Monday, set the stage for a new chapter in Pakistan-Austria relations, with an emphasis on economic cooperation, regional stability, and global issues.
The two leaders highlighted the importance of expanding trade, investment, and collaboration in sectors such as healthcare, education, IT, tourism, and renewable energy. Prime Minister Sharif and Chancellor Stocker agreed to accelerate efforts towards finalizing Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) that would pave the way for joint projects and initiatives.
They also underscored the need for greater government-to-government (G2G), government-to-business (G2B), and business-to-business (B2B) engagements between the two nations.
During their talks, the two leaders delved into global challenges, with a shared commitment to multilateralism. They discussed the pivotal role of the United Nations in addressing key issues such as peace and security, sustainable development, climate change, and the promotion of human rights.
Both sides emphasized their strong support for each other’s candidatures and vowed to collaborate with the international community to strengthen the UN system.
The day also saw the co-chairing of a forum attended by CEOs from leading Austrian and Pakistani companies. These executives represented industries spanning renewable energy, energy efficiency, industrial manufacturing, textiles, healthcare, tourism, and agro-industries. The forum was designed to foster business-to-business exchanges, and both leaders expressed hope that it would lead to increased investment and innovation between the two countries.
Prime Minister Sharif extended a personal invitation to Austrian businesses to participate in the upcoming EU-Pakistan Business Forum, set to take place in Islamabad this April. This forum, which will bring together European and Pakistani business leaders, is seen as a critical opportunity for deepening economic ties and exploring new trade and investment opportunities.
Earlier in the day, Prime Minister Sharif was formally received at the Federal Chancellery by Chancellor Stocker, where he was honored with a guard of honor ceremony. The two leaders engaged in a restricted meeting before holding broader delegation-level talks. Prime Minister Sharif also took a moment to inscribe his thoughts in the guest book, marking the beginning of what is expected to be a productive period in Pakistan-Austria relations.
In closing, Prime Minister Sharif expressed his gratitude to Chancellor Stocker for the meaningful and productive discussions. He extended an invitation for Chancellor Stocker to visit Pakistan at his earliest convenience, signaling a desire to continue building on the momentum generated by the Vienna talks.
