Brussels (Agencies): Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi on Monday arrived in Brussels on a two-day official visit.
FM Qureshi will attend ceremony of Long Term Strategic Engagement dialogue agreement between Pakistan and EU to be signed on June 25, 2019 in the European External Action Service. The signing ceremony will be attended by High Representative of European Union for Foreign Affairs Federica Mogherini.
The Strategic Dialogue would cover issues relating to security, democracy, human rights, good governance and socio-economic development, trade and investment, energy and sectoral cooperation.
Strategic engagement Dialogue was initiated for a period of five years in June 2009 by the European Union to support newly established democracy in Pakistan after long period of military dictatorship in the country. After restoration of democracy in Pakistan, the EU had extended level of cooperation significantly which led to summit-level relation between EU and Pakistan, and help to Pakistan’s health and education sector was provided.
Unfortunately, Pakistan could not keep summit level relations with EU, after two summits, one with then president Asif Ali Zardari and second with then prime minister Yousaf Raza Gillani.
After completion of five years, the SED was extended for another five years in 2014. Pakistan insisted that the SED should be permanent program to show the world that Pakistan is a stable democracy and comply with the international democratic norms and laws. In recognition of Pakistan's compliance to the SED conditionality, EU agreed to have an agreement for long term engagement with Pakistan.
Upon arrival, Qureshi was received by Pakistan Ambassador in Belgium and members of the diplomatic staff of Pakistan Embassy.
