*ISLAMABAD – French President Emmanuel Macron made a telephone call toPrime Minister Imran Khan.*

*He has appreciated Pakistan’s efforts to fight terrorism and recognisedthe “high price” it has paid to do so.*

He said this during a telephone call to Prime Minister Imran Khan onSeptember 13 to congratulate him on becoming premier. He also offered hiscondolences to Prime Minister Imran Khan on the incidents of terrorism inJuly during which a number of people, including electoral candidates, werekilled.

President Macron stressed the importance of deepening bilateral politicaldialogue. He expressed his desire to cooperate in the fields of energy,water resource management, trade and economy and to work together on issuesof mutual interest on a global level.

Prime Minister Imran Khan expressed his desire to develop bilateralrelations with France into a mutually beneficial, broad-based and long-termpartnership. He said that trade and investment ties between Pakistan andFrance are growing and appreciated the presence of a large number of Frenchcompanies in Pakistan.

He invited more French investment in Pakistan. Prime Minister Imran Khanalso spoke to President Macron about the regional situation, especially theimportance of a peaceful settlement in Afghanistan, and on relations withIndia. He underscored the need for comprehensive dialogue with India toaddress issues being faced, including the Jammu and Kashmir dispute.