Islamabad (By Irfan Mukhtiar): Federal Minister and Chairman of the Parliamentary Committee on Kashmir Rana Muhammad Qasim Noon visited the French National Assembly at the invitation of French lawmaker Carlos Martens Bilongo, where the two leaders discussed bilateral relations, parliamentary cooperation, regional affairs, and the situation in Jammu and Kashmir.
During the meeting, both sides held detailed discussions on matters of mutual interest, including strengthening parliamentary ties between Pakistan and France, expanding trade and investment opportunities, and enhancing cooperation across various sectors.
Regional and international issues also featured prominently in the talks, with particular attention given to the situation in Jammu and Kashmir. According to the official statement, Carlos Martens Bilongo expressed support for Pakistan’s position on the Kashmir issue and said the dispute should be resolved peacefully in accordance with international law and the aspirations of the Kashmiri people.
The French parliamentarian also expressed his desire to visit Pakistan in the near future with a parliamentary delegation to further strengthen parliamentary engagement and explore new avenues for bilateral cooperation.
Bilongo showed particular interest in Pakistan’s information technology and telecommunications sectors and assured the Pakistani side that he would support efforts to promote cooperation, investment, and partnerships in these fields.
Rana Muhammad Qasim Noon welcomed the French lawmaker’s positive sentiments and thanked him for expressing support for Pakistan’s stance on Kashmir. The minister reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to expanding parliamentary exchanges, economic cooperation, and people-to-people contacts between the two countries. He also extended an invitation to Carlos Martens Bilongo and his parliamentary delegation to visit Pakistan.
At the conclusion of the meeting, Rana Muhammad Qasim Noon presented the French lawmaker with a commemorative shield and a traditional Kashmiri scarf as a gesture of friendship and goodwill, describing the gift as a symbol of Pakistan’s solidarity with the people of Jammu and Kashmir. Bilongo accepted the gifts, appreciated their symbolic significance, and thanked the minister for the gesture.
The meeting concluded in a cordial atmosphere, with both leaders expressing confidence that continued parliamentary dialogue and closer cooperation would further strengthen the longstanding friendly relations between Pakistan and France while promoting collaboration in a range of sectors.
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