Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi has emphasised the need for continuity of high-level contacts between Pakistan and Iraq to further strengthen bilateral relations.

He was talking to Iraqi under Secretary Ministry of Political Planning Dr. Saleh Hussein Ali Al-Tamimi who called on him in Islamabad on Thursday.

During the meeting, issues of mutual interest including bilateral relations and promotion of cooperation in various fields were discussed. They also discussed bilateral trade and promotion of people-to-people contacts between the two countries.

Shah Mahmood Qureshi said Pakistan attaches special importance to bilateral fraternal relations with Iraq and strongly supports Iraq s sovereignty, political unity and territorial integrity.

The Foreign Minister said both countries can use each other's experiences to tackle global pandemic challenge effectively.

He said we are looking forward to hold ninth Pakistan-Iraq Joint Ministerial Commission meeting this year.

The Iraqi under Secretary expressed special thanks to the Government of Pakistan and the Foreign Minister for sending three ships of safety equipment to protect Iraqi people from Corona pandemic.

Meanwhile, Pakistan and Iraq has signed a Memorandum of Understanding on Training of Iraqi Diplomats, in Islamabad today.

The MoU was signed by Director General, Pakistan s Foreign Services Academy Imran Mirza and Dean and Under Secretary, Iraqi Institute of Foreign Service Dr. Saleh Hussain Ali Al Tamimi.

According to the MoU, the Foreign Services Academy will provide diplomatic training to Iraqi ambassadors and diplomats.