VIENNA: Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif met Austrian Chancellor Christian Stocker on Monday at the Hofburg Palace, where the two leaders held talks on bilateral relations and international issues.

In an official statement, the Prime Minister’s Office reported that PM Sharif was received at the Federal Chancellery with a guard of honor ceremony. He also signed the guest book.

Bilateral talks
PM Sharif and the Austrian Chancellor first met privately. They later led delegation-level discussions.

Pakistan’s delegation included Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, Information and Broadcasting Minister Attaullah Tarar, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister Syed Tariq Fatemi and Foreign Secretary Amna Baloch.

According to the PMO, the talks covered economic cooperation, trade and investment, tourism, education, information technology, health care and workforce mobility. Both sides agreed to expedite the finalization of memoranda of understanding under consideration in these areas.

Global issues
The leaders also exchanged views on regional and global developments.

They talked about the role of the United Nations in addressing peace and security, sustainable development, climate action and human rights. Both confirmed their support for multilateral cooperation and noted mutual backing for each other’s candidatures in international forums.

Business forum
The two leaders also co-chaired a forum of chief executives from Austrian and Pakistani companies.

Participating firms represented renewable energy, energy efficiency, manufacturing, construction, information technology, textiles, surgical instruments, leather goods, sports equipment, health care, tourism and agriculture.

Officials agreed to expand government-to-government and business-to-business engagement through existing platforms. PM Sharif invited Austrian companies to attend the EU-Pakistan Business Forum scheduled for April in Islamabad.

Official invitation
PM Sharif thanked Stocker for hosting the meetings and invited the Austrian chancellor to visit Pakistan.

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Pakistan PM meets Austrian Chancellor for bilateral talks in Vienna