ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Imran Khan held a telephonic conversation with Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed Ali today (Monday).
According to a press release issued by the PM Office, matters pertaining to bilateral ties, coronavirus, and debt relief came under discussion.
The press release informed that in the context of Pakistan’s “Engage Africa” policy, PM Imran emphasized the importance of closer bilateral ties with Ethiopia. The Prime Minister also reiterated his felicitations to the Ethiopian Prime Minister on winning the Nobel Peace Prize 2019.
PM Imran also conveyed Pakistan’s solidarity with the government and people of Ethiopia and commended their effective measures to contain the outbreak of coronavirus.
PM Imran Khan also highlighted the debt relief matters including Prime Minister Imran Khan’s ‘Global Initiative for Debt Relief’ for developing countries in the context of the coronavirus pandemic.
The Prime Minister underscored that developing countries faced the twin challenge of containing the disease and staving off hunger due to loss of livelihoods.
He also emphasized that while debt suspension will help free up resources, enhanced measures were needed to reboot the developing economies.
The Prime Minister underlined that the developing countries would need a combination of additional measures to meet urgent financial requirements, sustain growth, strengthen fragile health systems as well as to save lives and provide social protection to those below the poverty line.
The two leaders agreed on the importance of working together, along with the United Nations Secretary-General and other stakeholders, to evolve a comprehensive plan on debt relief issues.
PM Imran stressed upon further deepening of cooperation including enhanced political and diplomatic linkages and increased mutual trade. He also reiterated his invitation to Ethiopian PM to visit Pakistan at the earliest convenience.
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