Foreign Minister of Pakistan Makhdoom Shah Mahmood Qureshi represented Pakistan in Antalya Diplomacy Forum held from 18-20 June in Antalya. He participated in a high-level panel discussion on ‘Regional Cooperation in Asia’ along with the Foreign Ministers of Kyrgyzstan, Malaysia, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan in Antalya Diplomacy Forum.
Foreign Minister Qureshi highlighted the challenges being faced by Asia in form of unresolved disputes, tensions induced from within and without, renewed arms race, containment policies, unilateralism, poverty, COVID-19 and climate change. He called for a renewed focus by Asian countries on geo-economics and underlined the three pillars of Pakistan’s policy: regional connectivity, development partnerships, and peace and prosperity.
Highlighting the potential of Asia in the 21st Century, Foreign Minister Qureshi drew attention to the possibilities of cooperation that existed on the continent. He emphasized that connectivity and greater regional integration in form of trade and investment would pave the way for a successful Asian century. In this context, he noted that China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), as a flagship project of Belt and Road Initiative, offered great opportunities for the countries of the region.
On the sidelines, Foreign Minister Qureshi met with Dr. Abdullah Abdullah, Chairman of Afghanistan High Council for National Reconciliation, President of Kosovo Vjosa Osmani, EU High Representative Josep Borell, President of TRNC Ersin Tatar, Foreign Minister of Turkey Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu, Foreign Minister of Iran Javad Zarif, Foreign Minister of Iraq Dr. Fuad Hussein, Foreign Minister of Palestine Riyad al-Maliki, Foreign Minister of Uzbekistan Abdulaziz Kamilov, Foreign Minister of Kyrgyzstan Ruslan Kazakbaev, Foreign Minister of Qatar Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, Kuwait Foreign Minister Sheikh Ahmad Nasser Al-Mohammad Al-Sabah, Foreign Minister of Malaysia Hishammuddin Hussein, and Foreign Minister of Afghanistan Hanif Atmar.