President Asif Ali Zardari departed for Germany on Thursday on a three-day visit to discuss bilateral ties as the two countries are set to mark the 75th anniversary of their diplomatic relations.

In a statement issued earlier, the Foreign Office (FO) said the president’s visit, scheduled for Oct 22-24, is “part of high-level exchanges between Pakistan and Germany”.

President Zardari “has departed from Lahore for Germany”, the President’s office said on social media on Thursday.

The FO statement highlighted that the visit “holds special significance in the context of the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries being commemorated this year”.

It said the visit reflects the “deep commitment of both countries to further strengthening the partnership”.

During his visit, President Zardari will hold meetings with his German counterpart Frank-Walter Steinmeier, as well as senior leadership and business leaders, with a “particular focus оп economic and trade cooperation”, FO said.

Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah is also expected to accompany the president on his trip, with the matter being discussed in Murad’s meeting with German Consul General Thomas E. Schultze.

In September, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar met German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly.

During the meeting, Germany appreciated Pakistan’s mediation efforts in regional conflicts, especially in the Strait of Hormuz and Bab al-Mandab while the two sides also agreed to “get negotiations on peace for Ukraine going”, according to the German foreign office.

Meanwhile, in June, a German delegation announced plans to bring about 30 German companies to Pakistan and link local businesses to European markets.