Chairman Senate Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani met with Belgian Royal delegation at Parliament House, discussing bilateral relations and cooperation.
ISLAMABAD, May 12 (APP) - Chairman Senate Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani on Tuesday met with the Belgian Royal Delegation comprising Prince Édouard de Ligne La Trémoille and Princess Isabella Orsini de Ligne La Trémoille at Parliament House. The meeting took place in a cordial atmosphere, where both sides exchanged views on bilateral relations, parliamentary diplomacy, regional developments, and avenues for enhancing cooperation between Pakistan and Belgium, as reported by a news release.
The Chairman conveyed warm greetings and best wishes from the Parliament and people of Pakistan to the people of Belgium, expressing satisfaction over the growing relations between the two countries. He remarked that the visit reflected the longstanding friendship, mutual goodwill, and strengthening people-to-people ties between Pakistan and Belgium.
Gilani highlighted that Pakistan attaches great importance to its friendly relations with Belgium and regards it as an important partner in Europe. He added that Pakistan-Belgium relations are rooted in mutual respect, democratic values, and constructive engagement at bilateral and multilateral forums.
He emphasized the significance of Belgium as the host country of key European institutions and noted that it serves as an important gateway for Pakistan's engagement with Europe. Gilani also appreciated Belgium's continued support for Pakistan’s GSP Plus status, acknowledging its positive contribution towards enhancing trade and economic cooperation between the two countries.
Emphasizing the importance of parliamentary diplomacy, Gilani said the Senate of Pakistan remains actively engaged in promoting dialogue and cooperation with parliamentary institutions across the world. He underlined that enhanced interaction between parliamentarians and institutions of both countries would further strengthen mutual understanding and facilitate the exchange of experiences in democratic governance and policy making.
The Chairman also highlighted the significance of the Inter-Parliamentary Speakers' Conference (ISC), an initiative launched under his leadership in April 2025. He described the forum as a unique platform aimed at promoting global peace, cooperation, and inclusive development through parliamentary diplomacy. Referring to the first ISC Conference held in Islamabad in November 2025, Gilani noted that parliamentary delegations from 39 countries participated in the event, making it an important platform for dialogue on global peace and developmental challenges.
Gilani reiterated Pakistan's principled position in favor of peaceful resolution of conflicts, dialogue-based diplomacy, and regional stability. He further highlighted Pakistan’s diplomatic efforts aimed at promoting peace and de-escalation in the Middle East and expressed hope that the recent ceasefire agreement reached in April 2026 would contribute towards lasting peace and stability in the region.
The Chairman emphasized that Pakistan is a peace-loving country committed to the promotion of peace worldwide. He observed that India had attempted to impose conflict on Pakistan last year through false propaganda; however, Pakistan responded responsibly and defended itself with restraint and maturity. Gilani added that the leadership and bravery of Pakistan's Armed Forces have been widely appreciated internationally.
The Belgian Prince and Princess thanked Chairman Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani for the warm hospitality and appreciated Pakistan’s efforts for the promotion of peace at the international level. They acknowledged that European countries recognize and value Pakistan's constructive role in promoting global peace and expressed hope that Pakistan's diplomatic efforts would help avert wider global conflict and contribute to international stability.
At the conclusion of the meeting, Chairman Gilani thanked the distinguished Belgian delegation for their visit and reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to further strengthening relations with Belgium. He emphasized upon the importance of enhancing parliamentary exchanges, economic cooperation, and people-to-people contacts between the two countries while conveying his best wishes for the people of Belgium.
