Canada, Pakistan pledge commitment 'to working together to promote peace, prosperity'

By Merve Aydogan

HAMILTON, Canada (AA) - Canadian Foreign Minister Anita Anand and her Pakistani counterpart Ishaq Dar hailed the "strong and enduring ties" between the two countries and noted the significance of deepening cooperation, said a statement on Monday.

The two "held a productive bilateral call on October 30, reaffirming the strong and enduring ties between Canada and Pakistan and emphasizing the importance of deepening cooperation in areas of mutual interest," according to a joint statement shared by the Global Affairs Canada.

Noting that the two countries agreed "to facilitate the export of Canadian canola to Pakistan, recognizing the significant potential of Pakistan's expanding market for this Canadian commodity," Anand and Dar welcomed the conclusion of the first round of talks of the "Foreign Investment Promotion and Protection Agreement (FIPA)," describing the deal as "dedication to fostering a stable and transparent investment environment" between Canada and Pakistan.

"Both sides also expressed keen interest in expanding bilateral cooperation on energy security and critical minerals, recognizing the strong and growing role of Canadian companies in achieving Pakistan's ambitious mineral development goals and harnessing its clean energy potential," it said.

Pledging to hold the sixth round of bilateral talks, "which will serve as a platform to advance shared priorities, reinforce government-to-government and private sector linkages," the statement said the consultations will also pave the way to "explore new avenues for strategic collaboration."

"Canada and Pakistan remain committed to working together to promote peace, prosperity, and inclusive growth, both bilaterally and on the global stage," it added.