PM Shehbaz Sharif Meets MBS and Macron at One Water Summit
On webneseday, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif participated in Riyadh One Water Summit, holding a meeting with key world leaders, including Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and French President Emmanuel Macron, among others. The urgency of the global water crisis and how to safeguard water was at the top of discussions. PM Shehbaz had a chance to emphasize urgent political action and international cooperation over such vital resources as water.
Speaking at the summit, Prime Minister Shehbaz called for immediate measures on part of nations to protect this fast-scarcing resource, giving rise to droughts, environmental crisis, and calamities such as floods as experienced by Pakistan in the year 2022. The prime minister also presented an opportunity that needs more dams to conserve this water by avoiding its waste.
Meeting with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman
On the sidelines of the summit, PM Shehbaz Sharif met Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman. The two leaders discussed how to enhance the economic, trade, and investment relationship between their countries. PM Shehbaz appreciated the Crown Prince for his Vision 2030 initiative and his efforts towards climate change. They agreed on the need to increase bilateral cooperation to ensure the growth and prosperity of Pakistan.
The leaders also went over the progress of accords between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia, which center around investment and development. PM Shehbaz invited the Crown Prince to visit Pakistan soon, and MBS said he was looking forward to visiting.
Meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron
He met with the French. President Emmanuel Macron in that summit as well. Shehbaz Sharif expressed gratitude to France for being a leader in climate change and development, and, particularly for its help to Pakistan after the devastating 2022 floods in Pakistan. The two leaders also decided to work on enhancing their cooperation between Pakistan and France regarding key sectors such as agriculture, technology, skills, and clean drinking water.
It is on record that both leaders recognized and agreed that Pakistan-France relations need to be strong, politically, economically, trade, and investment-based.
The PM encouraged the French government to invest in climate adaptation and renewable energy projects in Pakistan. She informed the international community of mutually beneficial opportunities.
Meetings with MBS and Macron illustrate the PM’s efforts towards strengthened international cooperation in tackling a worldwide crisis-the global water problem-and improvement in economic cooperation with Saudi Arabia and France.
