ISLAMABAD – In a significant move to deepen bilateral ties, the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia and the Islamic Republic of Pakistan have agreed to enhance parliamentary cooperation and foster collaboration in key sectors including trade, investment, aviation, science and technology, and climate change.
The agreement emerged during a high-level meeting between H.E. Dr. Jemal Beker Abdula, Special Envoy and Ambassador Extraordinary of Ethiopia to Pakistan, and the Honorable Chairman Senate, H.E. Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani.
During the meeting, the two sides held wide-ranging discussions on the expanding scope of bilateral relations and shared vision on global peace and multilateral cooperation. Ambassador Dr. Jemal Beker lauded Pakistan’s role in promoting international peace and security, and underscored Ethiopia’s keen interest in establishing a strategic partnership with Pakistan.
Ambassador Dr. Jemal highlighted Ethiopia’s environmental leadership under Prime Minister Dr. Abiy Ahmed through the Green Legacy Initiative, which has resulted in the plantation of over 40.5 billion seedlings over the past six years, increasing the country’s green cover to 23.6%. He expressed Ethiopia’s readiness to collaborate with Pakistan under the Green Legacy and Green Pakistan initiatives, noting the recent Joint Green Legacy Forum held at the National Agriculture Research Center in Islamabad as a key milestone.
He also briefed the Senate Chairman on the positive momentum in bilateral relations following the establishment of the Ethiopian Embassy in Islamabad, the commencement of Ethiopian Airlines operations in Karachi, and the growing exchanges of delegations in sectors including health, education, tourism, and culture.
Chairman Senate Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani commended the efforts of Ambassador Dr. Jemal Beker in nurturing bilateral ties, particularly in fostering environmental collaboration across diverse segments of Pakistani society. He welcomed the growing cooperation in the aviation sector and recognized the potential of direct flights between Karachi and Addis Ababa in boosting people-to-people and commercial links.
Chairman Gilani reaffirmed Pakistan’s strong commitment to further strengthening its ties with Ethiopia and extended an invitation to his Ethiopian counterpart to participate in the upcoming Inter-Parliamentary Speakers’ Conference, scheduled to be held in Pakistan this November.
The meeting marked another important step in the growing diplomatic engagement between the two brotherly nations committed to shared prosperity, sustainability, and peace.
BY: The Times Union
