Rizwan Saeed Sheikh, Pakistan’s Ambassador to the United States, has said that Islamabad aims to strengthen its relationship with Washington in various fields as the new administration takes over the reins.
Speaking at an event in Washington on Thursday, the envoy reaffirmed the strength of trade ties between Pakistan and the US, saying that Washington remains Islamabad’s largest trading partner.
“Trade has been the most stable facet of our bilateral relationship. My foremost priority as ambassador is to expand economic diplomacy and strengthen commercial interactions.”
He was speaking at the “Ambassador Insider Series”, a programme that allows people to meet ambassadors and learn about the countries they represent. The series is hosted by The Washington Diplomat, a monthly newspaper.
He added, “Pakistan looks forward to deepening its partnership with the United States in areas of security, trade, investment, and climate resilience, ensuring a mutually beneficial future for both nations.”
With a new US administration and Congress in place, Ambassador Sheikh has engaged with key US policymakers, having met at least 40 congressmen and women in recent weeks, according to an official statement issued by the Pakistani embassy.
The top diplomat’s outreach efforts focus on reconnecting with re-elected representatives and building new partnerships to enhance the longstanding relationship between Pakistan and the US, the communique stated.
The Donald Trump’s administration took charge earlier this month and is introducing a host of policy changes, from deporting immigrants to withdrawing from climate agreements.
