Khar cautions Europe against pursuing economic decoupling.
State Minister Urges Closer Asia-Pacific-European Cooperation
Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Hina Rabbani Khar urged more ties between Europe and Asia-Pacific on Sunday at a speech in ISLAMABAD. She focused on the need for greater cooperation in the areas of commerce, investment, and sustainable development.
Khar emphasized Pakistan’s role as a trade, investment, and connectivity hub in the heart of Asia, which aspired to enhance its contacts with the European partners, during his speech at the EU Indo-Pacific Ministerial Forum in Stockholm.
Tobias Billstrom, the Swedish foreign minister, and EU High Representative Josep Borrell hosted a roundtable discussion on “Building More Sustainable and Inclusive Prosperity Together,” in which Khar took part.
She admired the European Union’s Global Gateway Strategy and the Green Deal for their commitment to environmental protection and international cooperation. She had high hopes that the new EU GSP Plus facility will maintain its commitment to advancing sustainable development and combating poverty.
In keeping with the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the minister of state emphasized the significance of recognizing the interdependent nature of sustainability and inclusivity.
She argued that free trade, win-win economic cooperation, and interconnection might be undermined by distortions, economic de-coupling, new kinds of protectionism, and the selective application of rules.
The state minister stressed the importance of collaboration in addressing climate change, pandemics, water, energy, and food security, all of which are new and non-traditional security issues.
Khar advocated for increased cooperation in research and capacity building between the European Union and Asia-Pacific countries with a focus on sustainability, green economies, agribusiness, and digital connectivity.
Swedish Foreign Minister Billstrom, EU High Representative Josep Borrell, United Arab Emirates Deputy Foreign Minister Noura Alkaabi, United Kingdom Lord Tariq Ahmad, United States Department of State Counselor Derek Chollet, and Thai Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs Vijavat Isarabhakdi were all among those Khar met with individually during his time in Stockholm.
