ISLAMABAD — Singaporean Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan has praised Pakistan’s contribution to regional diplomacy, describing its role in addressing regional challenges as distinctive, constructive and valuable.
Speaking at a joint press conference with Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar in Islamabad on Friday, Balakrishnan highlighted Pakistan’s diplomatic efforts amid ongoing tensions in the Gulf and their potential impact on Asian energy supplies.
He emphasized that a significant proportion of the energy transported through the Gulf reaches South, Southeast and Northeast Asia. He said Pakistan’s efforts to address regional challenges could benefit the wider international community.
Pakistan and Oman previously facilitated negotiations between the United States and Iran, resulting in the signing of the Islamabad Memorandum on June 18.
Dar described the visit as particularly significant, noting that it was the first visit by a Singaporean foreign minister to Pakistan in more than 20 years.
During their discussions, both countries explored opportunities to strengthen political and economic relations, expand collaboration in technology and education, encourage cultural exchanges and increase high-level diplomatic engagement.
Dar also highlighted the importance of protecting maritime trade routes, emphasizing that secure shipping channels and uninterrupted supply chains are essential for regional commerce and economic stability.
Both foreign ministers reaffirmed their commitment to resolving international disputes through dialogue, diplomacy, respect for international law and adherence to the principles of the United Nations Charter.
According to Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry, the discussions also covered cooperation within international organizations and Pakistan’s expanding engagement with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), particularly ahead of Singapore’s assumption of the bloc’s chairmanship in 2027.
During the visit, the two countries exchanged a memorandum of understanding between Singapore’s Civil Defence Force and Pakistan’s National Disaster Management Authority, aimed at strengthening institutional cooperation.
Separately, Balakrishnan met Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to discuss ways of increasing bilateral trade and investment. Their discussions covered potential cooperation in the digital economy, financial technology, infrastructure, logistics, small and medium-sized enterprises and services.
The visit comes as Pakistan and Singapore mark the 60th anniversary of establishing diplomatic relations, reflecting their shared interest in expanding economic engagement and strengthening diplomatic ties.
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PRESS UPDATE