Qureshi to visit UK from July 24

Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi will pay his first official visit to United Kingdom from July 24 to 26 on the invitation of British counterpart David Miliband. He will be accompanied by senior officials of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

His engagements in the United Kingdom will include a meeting with the British Prime Minister, official talks with Foreign Secretary David Miliband, Secretary of State for Business Enterprise and Regulatory Reform John Hutton, Secretary of State for Defence Des Browne, leader of opposition David Cameron and ‘Shadow’ Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs.

The two Foreign Ministers will review bilateral relations and explore avenues of further co-operation with the United Kingdom in diverse fields. They will also exchange views on regional and international issues of mutual interest including situation in Afghanistan, war against terrorism and composite dialogue process with India.

Mehmood will speak at the International Institute of Strategic Studies (IISS) besides holding roundtable meeting with Pakistani community leaders and young British-Pakistanis in Birmingham and having interaction with local and international media. The Foreign Minister will also meet Commonwealth Secretary General Kamalesh Sharma.

United Kingdom was among the first countries to establish contact with the present Pakistan government. The Foreign Minister’s visit will promote understanding on issues of mutual concern and facilitate promotion of greater market access for Pakistani products in British and EU markets.