Bilawal, Lavrov discuss bilateral cooperation, regional matters

ISLAMABAD (APP): Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari on Thursday met his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov here on the sidelines of the meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation’s Council of Foreign Ministers being held in Goa, India.
During the meeting, they discussed bilateral, regional and international matters of mutual interest.
Foreign Minister Bilawal assured to work closely for further deepening cooperation in food security, energy and people-to-people contacts.
He said that the SCO opened new vistas of cooperation and coordination with Russia.
Foreign Minister of Pakistan Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has arrived in India to lead Pakistan delegation at Shanghai Cooperation Organization Council of Foreign Ministers meeting being held in Goa Thursday.
The Foreign Minister is leading the country’s delegation at the SCO Council of Foreign Ministers meeting at the invitation of the current Chair, Minister for External Affairs of India Dr. S. Jaishankar. The meeting is scheduled to be held on May 4-5 in Goa.
On arriving Goa, the Pakistani foreign minister was welcomed by the staff of the Pakistani Commission in India and the Indian authorities.
Talking to media in Goa, the Foreign Minister said his decision to attend this meeting illustrates Pakistan’s strong commitment to the charter of SCO. He expressed the hope that SCO will emerge as successful forum towards its objectives.
Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari arrived in Goa on Thursday on his first-ever visit to India, hoping for a “successful” meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) foreign ministers.
“I am happy that I have reached here in Goa to attend the SCO meeting. I hope that the SCO CFM will be a success,” he said.
While leaving for India from Karachi, Bilawal reaffirmed Pakistan’s strong commitment to the charter of SCO in a tweet. “My visit [to India] illustrates how much Pakistan gives importance to SCO and how seriously it takes the SCO membership,” he said in a short video message.
The foreign minister said that he was looking forward to engaging bilaterally with the countries that are part of the international forum.
Meanwhile, Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari on Thursday said his participation along with a Pakistani delegation in the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO)’s Council of Foreign Ministers (CFM) moot in Goa, India showed how Pakistan gave importance to the Organization.
“My participation gives a clear message that how Pakistan shows importance to the SCO and how seriously it takes its membership,” the foreign minister said in a video message before his departure to attend the SCO’s CFM meeting in Goa.
He said he looked forward to engaging the countries which were part of this organization.
Later Bilawal Bhutto Zardari on Thursday departed from Karachi to attend the SCO CFM moot in Goa, India.
The foreign minister is attending the SCO’s CFM meeting at the invitation of the current Chair of SCO CFM, Dr. S. Jaishankar, Minister for External Affairs of India.