Norwegian Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide arrived in Islamabad on Thursday for a two-day official visit, marking the first visit by a Norwegian foreign minister to Pakistan in ten years. His arrival was greeted by Additional Foreign Secretary (Europe) Ambassador Ayesha Ali at the airport.
Following his arrival, Eide was formally welcomed at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar. The visit, scheduled from August 13 to 14, was extended at the invitation of Ishaq Dar, with delegation-level discussions planned to cover the entire spectrum of Pakistan-Norway relations.
During the talks, both sides are expected to explore opportunities to expand bilateral cooperation across various sectors, including trade and investment, climate change, renewable energy, education, and people-to-people exchanges. Regional and international issues are also set to be part of the agenda, reflecting the broader scope of the discussions.
This visit follows a series of recent high-level interactions between the two countries, such as phone conversations between Dar and Eide in March and April, and a visit by Norway’s State Secretary Andreas Motzfeldt Kravik to Islamabad in May. These engagements have laid the groundwork for deepening the longstanding and friendly relationship between Pakistan and Norway.
In a significant development, the visit aims to identify new areas for collaboration and reinforce the cordial ties that have existed between the two nations, signaling a renewed commitment to enhancing their partnership in multiple fields.
