Around the World Last Week!

Welcome to the new week!

Even seconds are enough to bring great changes to the World, and, It’s been seven days!

So let’s view The Diplomatic Insight’s “Weekly Roundup,” a quick review of global events and happenings published last week by The Diplomatic Insight.

Europe

By signing the Strategic 2030 partnership, Poland and UK have entered a new era of their bilateral engagement. Their cooperation in foreign policy and defense sectors signifies historical ties and a shared vision in the face of international and regional dynamics.?

On the other hand, France applauded the decision of the Serbian court to release the Kosovan police officers, a step towards mitigating tensions between two hostile states. It also expressed its readiness to support peace and tranquility in the Balkan region through sustainable solutions to the ongoing conflicts.?

In another tragic incident, France strongly condemned airstrikes in Syria that claimed at least 13 lives and injured several others. It also committed its full support to the international community, working towards the peaceful settlement of the political dispute in Syria to ensure the safety of the Syrians.?

Furthermore, France extended its felicitations to Stoltenberg on the extension of his tenure as a NATO Secretary General for the fourth time. Stoltenberg has exhibited remarkable achievements during his tenure, maintaining unity within the alliance and treasuring unprecedented experiences. His extended tenure is expected to further strengthen NATO’s standing globally.?

China and the EU held Fourth High-Level Dialogue on Environment and Climate to tackle the growing climate-related challenges and support sustainable development. Both sides expressed their firm commitment to deepen bilateral cooperation to promote an eco-friendly environment and contribute to the global fight against climate change.

Moreover, during a time of great challenges for the European Union, such as climate change, economic challenges, and technological transitions, Spain has assumed the Presidency of the EU Council, thereby providing a valuable opportunity for the country to lead EU policy initiatives.

South Asia- Eurasia

With its already struggling economy, the extension of the Pakistan-Italian Debt Swap Agreement (PIDSA) till 2024 is a jewel in the crown for Pakistan. It will help strengthen mutual collaboration between the two countries and assist Pakistan in addressing its development challenges.?

Meanwhile, Azerbaijani Foreign Minister attended the Caspian Connectivity Conference, where he emphasized the importance of the Caspian region and its potential for promoting Asia-Europe engagement. He also urged increased connectivity within the region while highlighting Azerbaijan’s contributions in this regard.?

While lifting itself in the arena of public diplomacy, the Pakistan embassy in Washington arranged an interactive session between Pakistan Federal Minister for Law and Justice and the Pakistani and American communities. It provided an opportunity for the natives of the two countries to compare notes on legal matters and forge a deeper understanding between the two nations.

Whereas to further deepen their historical, religious, and cultural bonds, Pakistan and Turkey held the 6th session of Political Bilateral Consultations in Ankara to review existing ties and pave the way for future collaboration in diverse sectors.?

On the other hand, the 13th Bilateral Political Consultations were held between Pakistan and Japan, where the two sides focused on enhancing their bilateral ties in terms of trade, people-to-people connectivity, as well as in science and technology, among others.

Furthermore, as the head of the new global financial treaty, Pakistan's Prime Minister engaged in productive discussions with innovative minds, at the Global Financing Treaty Roundtable Conference in Paris, to exchange ideas and policies in order to address global financing vulnerabilities and common challenges.

Meanwhile, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization Summit in India gathered members of the organization on a virtual platform where they highlighted various regional developments and called for collective actions along with welcoming Iran as a formal member of the organization.?

Also, Turkiye Foreign Minister Visit Montenegro to attend SEECP Summit. This summit in Montenegro reaffirmed Turkey’s full support of the Process’s efforts in promoting peace and stability in the Balkan region.??

Central Asia

In commemoration of the opening of the first smart city, Arkadag, Turkmenistan, hosted an International Media Forum. The smart city is an embodiment of innovation and sustainable development in Turkmenistan, marking a milestone in its economic and strategic development.?

Furthermore, as Uzbekistan's presidential elections began, its embassy in Pakistan organized an early voting process for its expats in Lahore and Karachi. The people of Uzbekistan expressed their satisfaction with the new reforms introduced in the country and their high expectations regarding the country's development under the incoming government.??

Besides, Kazakhstan celebrated its Diplomatic Service Day, paying tribute to its diplomatic community for effectively promoting the country’s interests abroad and fostering cooperative relations with other nations.?

East Asia

To begin a new era – the community of shared future, a Pakistani high-level parliamentary delegation began its 9-day visit to China at the China Institute for International and Development Studies (CIIDS), where the two sides compared notes and explored innovative opportunities for collaboration.

Moreover, Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) continues to play a significant role in bolstering ties among its member states, especially China and Russia. The two countries arranged a meeting in Beijing to discuss the international developments concerning both states and also emphasized the importance of SCO in promoting regional peace and cooperation.?

Lately, President Xi bestowed his congratulations on the eve of an event commemorating the 70th anniversary of the UK-China “Icebreaking Mission”. This mission laid the ground for economic relations between the UK and the newly emerged People’s Republic of China in 1954.

In another event, China and ASEAN gathered at the 17th ASEAN-China Forum on Social Development and Poverty Reduction to exchange ideas and expertise to realize the collective goals of elevating poverty and promoting developed and inclusive societies.?

Additionally, the EU-supported ASEAN Circular Economy Stakeholder Platform was established in Jakarta to achieve the ASEAN circular economy objective aimed at promoting green transition and sustainable development within the South-East Asian region.

Middle East

In a demonstration of another Islamophobic act, the burning of the Quran attracted condemnation from across the Muslim world. Both Jordan and Turkey denounced the extremist act of burning the Holy Book in Sweden, whereas Saudi Arabia summoned the Swedish ambassador to KSA to protest against the provoking act and emphasized the importance of respecting each other’s cultures and religions to promote peaceful relations globally.?

On the other hand, Kazakhstan and Pakistan, while engaging in the second Bilateral Political Consultation, Kazakhstan and Pakistan reviewed their bilateral ties and collaboration at international platforms and explored new areas of cooperation, especially in the trade sector, that will benefit both nations equally.?

Americas

The US extended its heartfelt congratulations to Greece’s Prime Minister on his re-appointment, along with underscoring the importance of Greece as a reliable NATO ally and expressing hope of deepening existing ties with the country.?

Then at the Ukraine Recovery Conference, the US announced to provide assistance of $1.31 billion to Ukraine for its socio-economic revival amid the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war. Hence, it emphasizes the importance of Ukraine in the Euro-Atlantic region.?

Africa

The African nations of Zambia, Congo, and Angola attended the Handover Ceremony of the Labito Corridor, a commendable project supporting regional integration while providing the shortest trade route to the sea. The development of this corridor could act as a game changer for the whole African region, enhancing its global economic activity.?

In another landmark event, Tanzania established an embassy in Jakarta to promote deeper connectivity between South East Asia and Africa and foster bilateral relations with Indonesia. This initiative is a stepping stone towards establishing ties in diverse sectors of cooperation between the two countries.?

The South African President co-chaired the 12th Bi-National Commission with the Congolese President in Congo. The two sides engaged in fruitful discussions to advance their bilateral ties in areas of common interest, including defense, energy, and finance.?

Also, this week marked the Golden Jubilee of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM). The Caribbean states celebrated the event in Trinidad and Tobago amid the 45th Summit of CARICOM. It demonstrated the 50-year history of collaboration among Caribbean nations and encouraged members to further deepen their relations in a variety of sectors.?

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