Weekly Roundup

14 September 2023

Welcome to a brand new week!

Here The Diplomatic Insight ’s “Weekly Roundup” brings you its compelling publications and extensive coverage from across the globe, published within a week. 

Europe

Germany clinched their inaugural FIBA World Cup Championship 2023, defeating Serbia 83-77 in the finals. This remarkable victory created history for German basketball.

Belgium launched a new Embassy in Moldova to strengthen ties between the two countries. During the inauguration of the Embassy, Belgian Minister for Foreign Affairs, Hadja Lahbib, expressed Belgium's support for Moldova's membership in the EU. 

The Pakistan Embassy in Hungary hosted the first-ever art exhibition featuring Pakistani artists in Budapest. The event was a joint effort between the Embassy of Turkey in Hungary and the Yunus Emre Institute.

British American Tobacco (BAT) has officially confirmed the successful completion of its withdrawal from the Russian market by formally agreeing to divest its operations in Russia and Belarus while ensuring complete adherence to both local and international legal regulations.

South Asia

President of Pakistan, Dr Arif Alvi, extended a warm welcome to the Ambassadors-designate of China, Venezuela, and Colombia, underscoring the importance of strong bilateral ties, trade, and cooperation of Pakistan with these countries. 

Meanwhile, a prominent delegation representing the Global Business Alliance (GBA) recently held a meeting with Ulanbek Totuiaev, the Ambassador of the Kyrgyz Republic to Pakistan. During the discussions, the significance of the Pakistan-Kyrgyzstan Trade House was emphasized.

Also, Pakistan strongly denounced the self-declared elections held in the separatist Armenian-populated Karabakh region of Azerbaijan, terming it an exceedingly provocative action. 

Ethan Sun, CEO of Huawei Pakistan, met with the caretaker Prime Minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar to discuss existing and prospective partnerships aimed at fostering the growth of the ICT ecosystem and digital economy in Pakistan.

Additionally, US Ambassador Blome has recently visited Punjab, Pakistan. His visit was instrumental in bolstering bilateral ties. The Ambassador engaged with business leaders, fostering discussions on trade, investment, and human rights issues.

On the other hand, Pakistan's caretaker Foreign Minister, Jalil Abbas Jilani, strongly responded to the Afghan Ministry’s statement over the Torkham border closing, citing incidents of Afghan troops' unprovoked firing.

In the realm of culture and diplomacy, Pakistan’s caretaker Minister Jamal Shah underscored the need for stronger cultural ties between Pakistan and Sri Lanka during a cultural performance at the Pakistan National Council of the Arts (PNCA) commemorating 75 years of diplomatic relations.

The World Bank's Country Director and Pakistan's Finance Minister held productive talks on ongoing projects and potential collaborations to invigorate economic activities in Pakistan, with a particular focus on implementing reforms.

On the sidelines of the G20 Summit in New Delhi, President Biden held a bilateral meeting with India, discussing the strategic partnership of the US and India in multiple spheres along with emphasizing the significance of QUAD in the Indo-Pacific region.

While addressing the G20 summit in India, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau advocated international cooperation for inclusive growth and condemned Russia's actions in Ukraine.

Likewise, the African Union (AU) secured permanent membership in the G20. The decision was collectively made by G20 nations marking a significant step in strengthening Global South representation within the group. 

Furthermore, as part of the summit proceedings, Prime Minister Narendra Modi officially passed the G20 presidency to Brazil, underscoring the vital role of global cooperation in addressing common challenges.

East Asia 

Regional cooperation was at the forefront during the 18th East Asia Summit which was recently convened in Jakarta, Indonesia, and chaired by Indonesian President, Joko Widodo. This collaboration extended to environmental responsibility and adherence to international law along with exchanging dialogues on regional and international issues.

Furthermore, at the 26th ASEAN Plus Three Summit in Jakarta, chaired by Japan's Prime Minister Kishida, regional growth, the ongoing challenges of COVID-19, and bolstered maritime cooperation were key topics of discussion.

Meanwhile in Xining, China, the CPC-hosted event spotlighted China's commitment to ecological harmony, addressing global warming, wildlife preservation, and abundant lithium resources.

During a diplomatic meeting, Polish and Japanese Foreign Ministers reaffirmed their strategic partnership, particularly emphasizing economic cooperation and their shared humanitarian support for Ukraine.

Middle East

On the sidelines of the G20 Summit, the Prime Minister of Bangladesh, Sheikh Hasina, held a meeting with Saudi Crown Prince, Mohammed bin Salman. The meeting was focused on discussing bilateral cooperation between the two countries.

The inaugural Japan-Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Foreign Ministers' Meeting took place in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. It was characterized by constructive dialogues and a renewed dedication to bolstering the partnership between Japan and the GCC.

Furthermore, during the 54th session of the Human Rights Council in Geneva, the State of Qatar reaffirmed its commitment to advancing and protecting human rights in Sudan. 

Africa

The inaugural meeting of the senior officials from the Somalia-Ethiopia Joint Ministerial Commission (JMC) commenced in Mogadishu, Somalia. It aimed to boost cooperation and strengthen ties between the two countries, focusing on mutual interests and regional development.

In a similar spirit of fostering regional progress, the UN Envoy for Moroccan Sahara, Staffan De Mistura, visited Rabat to discuss the Moroccan Sahara issue. During the discussions with the Envoy, the Moroccan delegation emphasized political solutions to the problems while maintaining the country’s autonomy.

At the Africa Climate Summit, the Kenyan President along with the European Commission President presented Green Hydrogen Strategy and Roadmap for Kenya to transform the latter’s energy landscape.

Americas

The United States President, Joe Biden, during his visit to Vietnam, elevated the bilateral relations between the two countries to the level of strategic partnership, fortifying existing ties between both sides. 

Ambassador Masood Khan urged Pakistani-American investors to confidently invest and explore diverse opportunities in Pakistan during his speech at the Pak America Business Forum (PABF) Annual Banquet in Texila.

Demonstrating a strong commitment to Pakistan's economic growth, the USA announced a substantial investment of $40 million in US-Pakistani diaspora investment at the USAID 'Invest in Pakistan' conference, bringing the total investment to $200 million.

Furthermore, Costa Rica and Canada engaged in third Political Consultations in Ottawa which underscored the shared commitment of both sides to enhance cooperation, democracy, trade, and regional stability within the framework of sustainable development.

Multilateral Institutions and INGOs

The 45th session of the World Heritage Committee is currently being held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The committee is focused on safeguarding cultural and natural heritage, reviewing a diverse range of cultural nominations from around the globe.

A meeting of European Union Agriculture Ministers took place informally in Córdoba, where they engaged in discussions about harnessing innovative technologies to strengthen food security, address climate change, and improve the economic viability of the agricultural industry.

Moreover, with support from the U.S. Embassy and UNDP, four Alternative Livelihood Training Centers (ATCs) costing $975K have been established in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. These centres aim to promote alternative crops and reduce narcotics-related activities.

Meanwhile, the 78th UNGA session began with General Assembly President Dennis Francis emphasizing the need for global cooperation and inclusivity to address pressing challenges.

Highlighting a dire human rights crisis, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, has voiced concern over the severe oppression of Afghan women and girls by the Taliban.

The European Commissioner for Crisis Management, Janez Lenarcic, has voiced significant apprehension regarding the recent catastrophic earthquake that struck central Morocco. EU’s Emergency Response Coordination Centre is closely observing the situation and is prepared to assist when needed. 

National and International Days

The World celebrated International Day to Protect Education from Attack on September 9. The UN and its agencies emphasised the vital importance of education while urging the pressing necessity to protect it from hostile actions.

On the same day, Tajikistan celebrated its 32nd Independence Day and the 30th anniversary of its Armed Forces with a grand military parade held in Dushanbe.

September 8 marked the celebrations of  World Literacy Day with this year's theme being "Promoting literacy for a world in transition". 

Andorra, a petite principality situated in the Pyrenees Mountains, also commemorated its National Day on 8th September with full zeal and zest, featuring various events and festivities. 

Pakistan observed Defense Day, also known as Youm-e-Difa, on September 6 by arranging ceremonies honouring the martyrs. Additionally, the Pakistan High Commission in London hosted an event to commemorate the 58th anniversary of Pakistan Defense Day. 

September 6 also marked the commemoration of Somhlolo Day, also recognized as Swaziland Independence Day or Sobhuza Day. This significant holiday marked the commemoration of Eswatini's liberation from British colonial rule in 1968.

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