ANTALYA: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif held a series of meetings with world leaders on the sidelines of the COP31 Leaders’ Summit in Antalya, Türkiye, including talks with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Finnish President Alexander Stubb and Iraqi President Nizar Mohammed Saeed Amidi, before departing for Pakistan.
In his meeting with President Erdogan, the two leaders agreed to speed up existing initiatives and look for new ways to deepen economic ties, with a focus on trade and investment, defence, energy and connectivity. President Erdogan praised Pakistan’s constructive role and mediation that led to the signing of the Islamabad MoU, and both leaders stressed that all parties must honour their commitments under it for lasting peace in the region. The Prime Minister thanked Türkiye for its support and coordination during Pakistan’s diplomatic efforts.
With President Stubb, the Prime Minister said he wanted to turn Pakistan-Finland relations into a forward-looking partnership covering trade, education and skills, technology and climate resilience. He welcomed Finnish companies already working in Pakistan, including Nokia, Wärtsilä, Metso and Vaisala, and expressed interest in Finnish expertise in flood forecasting, water management, glacier monitoring and early-warning systems. President Stubb praised Pakistan’s role in facilitating dialogue between Iran and the United States, and the Prime Minister renewed his invitation for an official visit.
Meeting President Amidi, the Prime Minister congratulated Iraq on its parliamentary elections and the formation of a new government, reaffirmed support for Iraq’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, and thanked Baghdad for facilitating Pakistani pilgrims. The two sides reviewed cooperation in trade, investment, manpower, reconstruction, agriculture and defence.
Background
The Prime Minister travelled to Türkiye for the UN climate conference, where he presented Pakistan’s shift to clean energy and called for grant-based climate financing for vulnerable countries, as NEN reported. Pakistan and Türkiye already share a strategic partnership and regular high-level dialogue.
What This Means for Pakistan
The meetings open practical channels on issues that affect daily life. Finnish experience in flood forecasting and early-warning systems is directly relevant to a country that has suffered repeated floods. Closer ties with Iraq on manpower and pilgrim facilitation matter to Pakistani workers seeking jobs abroad and to families travelling to holy sites in Iraq. Wider cooperation with Türkiye on energy and trade could support investment and exports.
Both Finland and Iraq were invited to make official visits to Pakistan at mutually convenient dates.
Sources: Radio Pakistan
Featured image: Photo: August Dominus / Wikimedia Commons, CC0
