The two-day 48th Session of the Council of Foreign Ministers of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation is beginning today in Islamabad with the thematic focus on ‘Partnering for Unity, Justice and Development’.
Foreign Ministers and high-level dignitaries from OIC Member and Observer States, attending the session, will also witness the Pakistan Day Parade on March 23 as Guests of Honour.
China’s State Councillor and Foreign Minister, Wang Yi will attend as a Special Guest. Senior officials from non-OIC countries, senior representatives from the United Nations, regional and international organizations, including the Arab League and the GCC will also participate.
Prime Minister Imran Khan will deliver the keynote address at the inaugural session.
Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi will chair the meeting.
The OIC Council of Foreign Ministers’ conference assumes special significance given the backdrop of opportunities and challenges before the Muslim world in the political, security, social and economic spheres.
It will reiterate its resolve to combat rising Islamophobia, and discuss strategies to counter the effects of climate change, vaccine inequity and erosion in progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals.
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, on the special invitation of Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi to attend the OIC moot as a special guest, arrived in Pakistan on Monday to attend the OIC foreign ministers’ conference.
During his visit, Wang is also expected to attend the Pakistan Day parade, where he will witness a special performance of China-made modern fighter jets J-10C.The Chinese foreign minister will also meet Prime Minister Imran Khan and President Arif Alvi.
The China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, bilateral relations, and matters pertaining to regional and international significance will be discussed during his talks with the Pakistani leadership. A substantial economic package for the second phase of CPEC is also expected to be announced by the Chinese foreign minister.
Meanwhile, the foreign ministers and delegations from the Organization of Islamic Cooperation members states, observers and representatives of the international organizations arrived here to attend the meeting of the OIC Council of Foreign Ministers.
The delegations were received warmly at Islamabad International Airport, where a special red carpet was rolled out for the dignitaries. The International Lounge was also decorated with flags of the OIC Member States and the dignitaries were escorted on traditionally decorated polo carts from the run way to the lounge.
Secretary General of Organization of Islamic Cooperation Hissein Brahim Taha also arrived to attend OIC moot. He was warmly welcomed by Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting Farrukh Habib, Special Representative on Religious Harmony Muhammad Tahir Ashrafi and officials of Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The foreign ministers of Egypt, Somalia, Niger, Gambia, Bangladesh, Uganda, Tunisia, Tajikistan, Guinea Bissau, Cote d’ Ivoire and Bosnia reached the federal capital on Monday morning.
Meanwhile, Maldives’ Permanent Representative to OIC, Mohemed Khalil, the delegations of Indonesia, Azerbaijan, Libya, Malasiya and Mozambique led by deputy foreign ministers also arrived in Islamabad to attend the OIC meeting.
A delegation from Turkey also reached to participate in the OIC Council of Foreign Ministers. Bangladesh’s Permanent Representative to OIC Mohammad Javed Patwary also reached.
President Islamic Development Bank, Mohammad Sulaiman Al Jasser also arrived to attend 48th session of the OIC moot. A delegation from Lebanon led by Permanent Representative of Lebanon to OIC Dr. Fawzi Mohamad Mounzer Kabbara also arrived this morning. Other delegations from Sweden, Chad, SESRIC, IPHRC, ICDT and IRCICA also arrived in Islamabad to attend the session.
Talking to media at airport, the OIC Secretary General said that he was very happy to be back and to visit Pakistan. He said during the OIC Foreign Ministers meeting all important issues related to Muslim Ummah would be discussed.
