Key points

  • Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif met world leaders on the sidelines of the COP31 summit in Antalya, Türkiye, according to Business Recorder.
  • The premier was received at the venue by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and UN Secretary-General António Guterres.
  • He is scheduled to address the summit and hold bilateral meetings centered on clean energy transition and climate justice.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif arrived at the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Antalya to advance Pakistan's climate agenda among international counterparts, Business Recorder reported on Wednesday. Upon arrival at the summit venue, the prime minister was welcomed by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres, according to a statement issued by the Prime Minister's Office.

Key Details

Business Recorder reported that the prime minister joined a group photograph with other world leaders before engaging in discussions with several visiting dignitaries. The officials he met included Saudi Energy Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman Al Saud, Bangladesh Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Secretary-General Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed, Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammad Mustafa, and Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa. Additional figures greeted by the premier included Turkish First Lady Emine Erdoğan, Saudi Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Adel bin Ahmed Al-Jubeir, and World Bank President Ajay Banga.

Context and Impact

The Prime Minister's Office stated that the visit aims to advance the nation's clean energy transition and climate justice agenda. According to Business Recorder, the prime minister's scheduled address on Wednesday focuses on the theme “Clean Energy Transition by 2035: Powering the Future,” designed to voice the concerns of populations most vulnerable to environmental shifts.

Summary and What Next

Business Recorder reported that bilateral discussions between Prime Minister Shehbaz and President Erdoğan, alongside other international counterparts, are set to cover ongoing climate challenges and clean energy cooperation. Further outcomes from these diplomatic meetings remain to be detailed by official statements.