*Imran Khan’s phone call with Ethiopian Prime Minister
Prime Minister Imran Khan, held a telephone conversation with Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed Ali of Ethiopia. In the context of Pakistan’s ‘Engage Africa’ policy, the Prime Minister emphasized the significance of closer bilateral ties with Ethiopia.
The Prime Minister also reiterated his felicitations to Prime Minister Abiy on winning the 2019 Nobel Peace Prize, source added. The Prime Minister conveyed Pakistan’s solidarity with the government and people of Ethiopia, and commended their effective initiatives to control the spread of COVID-19. It is also added that the discussion focused on debt relief matters, counting Imran Khan’s ‘Global Initiative for Debt Relief’ for developing states in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. The Prime Minister underscored that developing states faced the twin challenge of containing the disease and staving off hunger because of loss of livelihoods. He emphasized that while debt suspension will help free up resources, improved measures were needed to reboot the developing economies. Noting that a worldwide recession was imminent, the Prime Minister underlined that developing states would need a combination of additional initiatives to meet urgent financial requirements, sustain growth, strengthen fragile health systems also to save lives and provide social protection to those below the poverty line. The two leaders agreed on the significance of working together, along with the UN Secretary General and other stakeholders, to evolve a comprehensive plan on debt relief issues.
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Bilaterally, Imran Khan stressed upon more deepening of cooperation counting improved political and diplomatic linkages and increased mutual trade. Prime Minister Imran Khan reiterated his invitation to Prime Minister Abiy to visit Pakistan at the earliest convenience. It is also important to note here, the world suffers through a worldwide pandemic, Pakistan’s Foreign Office and diplomatic strategies continue to handle existing challenges, as well as take on new initiatives. One of these initiatives is the plan to spearhead a worldwide attempt to attain lenient economic terms for developing states, which are already suffering because of the pandemic. This plan has demonstrated Imran Khan’s flair for diplomacy. After successfully introducing his diplomatic initiative and convincing the World Bank, IMF and G-20 states to temporarily implement debt suspension, Imran Khan is now embarking on another debt-relief campaign for developing states. This diplomatic overture is picking up steam as dissimilar world leaders express support for it.
