Vienna: Pakistan and Austria have reaffirmed their commitment to enhancing bilateral relations in areas including economic cooperation, trade, and investment. This was articulated in a joint statement following the official visit of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to Vienna.

According to Radio Pakistan, the visit included a one-on-one meeting between Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Austrian Chancellor Christian Stocker. The leaders discussed global developments and concurred on the importance of the United Nations in addressing global challenges related to peace, security, sustainable development, and human rights. They expressed support for multilateralism and a rule-based global order, emphasizing the principles of the United Nations Charter.

Both leaders recognized the potential for increased cooperation between Pakistan and Austria in various sectors such as trade, investment, tourism, hospitality, education, IT, healthcare, and human resource development. They agreed to expedite the finalization of several Memoranda of Understanding currently under consideration in these areas.

In addition to their one-on-one meeting, Prime Minister Sharif and Chancellor Stocker co-chaired a forum featuring leading Austrian and Pakistani companies. The forum aimed to enhance bilateral exchanges and cooperation through current and future frameworks, leveraging established dialogue mechanisms.

Prime Minister Sharif extended an invitation to Austrian businesses to participate in the upcoming EU-Pakistan Business Forum scheduled for April 2026 in Islamabad. Furthermore, he invited Chancellor Stocker to visit Pakistan in the near future.