Prime Minister and Croatian Foreign Minister discuss expanding cooperation in key sectors

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Croatian Foreign and European Affairs Minister Gordan Grlić Radman agreed on Thursday to strengthen bilateral cooperation in trade, investment and other sectors during talks in Islamabad, as the two countries sought to deepen ties, according to a statement issued by the Prime Minister’s Office.

During the meeting at the Prime Minister House, Sharif welcomed Radman and his delegation and said that Pakistan and Croatia enjoyed friendly relations based on mutual respect, goodwill and shared interests.

The prime minister expressed Pakistan’s desire to expand cooperation in trade and investment, information technology, connectivity, agriculture, tourism and skilled manpower. Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar and Foreign Minister Amna Baloch also attended the meeting.

Sharif conveyed his best wishes to Zoran Milanović and Andrej Plenković and extended invitations to both leaders for official visits to Pakistan.

Radman thanked the Prime Minister for the warm welcome and described his visit to Islamabad as an honour. He also praised Pakistan and its leadership for their role in promoting regional peace and reaffirmed his government’s desire to further expand relations with Pakistan in all areas of mutual interest.

Meeting with Ishaq Dar

Foreign Minister Dar received the Croatian minister and the Croatian delegation before both sides held delegation-level talks on strengthening bilateral cooperation.

According to a statement issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Day X, the two sides discussed ways to expand cooperation in trade, investment, agriculture, labor mobility, visa facilitation, education, defense, climate change, tourism, infrastructure and information technology.

They also exchanged views on various aspects of cooperation between Pakistan and the European Union as well as regional and global issues of mutual interest.

The FO said both sides recognized that “connectivity is at the heart of sustainable development, regional stability and global economic integration” and discussed opportunities for collaboration between Pakistan and Croatia ports.

Pakistan and Croatia also agreed to hold bilateral political consultations later this year or early 2027. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs described Radman’s visit as “an important step in strengthening relations between the two countries.”

Earlier, Radman arrived in Islamabad on Thursday on a one-day official visit as the two sides are set to discuss ways to strengthen bilateral relations, according to a statement issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (FO).

According to the statement, Radman will hold delegation-level talks with Foreign Minister Dar and also plans to convene the country’s leaders.

He was received at the airport by the director general of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Europe-I).

In a statement, the FO said Pakistan “looks forward to further strengthening bilateral cooperation with Croatia in areas of mutual interest.”

The visit is expected to provide an opportunity for both sides to review bilateral relations and explore avenues to expand cooperation in areas of shared interest.