ISLAMABAD: The Visegrad 4 (V4) Group of European countries intends to have greater cooperation with Pakistan and possibly develop a cooperative framework on the lines of the group’s engagement with Japan.

Speaking at a media briefing on Monday, Polish Ambassador to Pakistan Piotr Opalinski, whose country is currently holding the presidency of V4, said like V4 + Japan cooperation “we hope for V4 + Pakistan cooperation under V4+ mechanism in future”.

The media briefing was held on the occasion of the 30th anniversary of the Visegrad cooperation. The Polish envoy was accompanied by Ambassador of Hungary Bela Fazekas and the deputy head of mission of Czech Republic in Islamabad on the occasion.

V4, established in 1991, is a political, economic and cultural grouping within the European Union comprising Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland and Slovakia.

The V4 group was described in a statement issued here by the Polish embassy as an “effective format of regional cooperation within the European Union which contributes to the shaping of European policies and enhancing its economic competitiveness”.

Japan’s cooperation framework with V4 countries has helped expand political ties. Similarly, economic relationship between Japan and V4 countries has grown, but challenges remain.

The envoys, while speaking at the briefing, recalled the bilateral cooperation of their respective countries with Pakistan especially in the fields of energy, trade and education and hoped for increased collaboration in the near future. They expressed their interest in China-Pakistan Economic Corridor projects and said it represented an opportunity for cooperation.

Polish Ambassador Opalinski said his country was exploring the possibility of joining the infrastructure projects. Ambassador Fazekas of Hungary, meanwhile, called for a bilateral investment treaty between Pakistan and his country to provide for legal cover to Hungarian investments.

Published in Dawn, February 16th, 2021