The United States considered Pakistan an important partner and hoped to work with the government to build stronger ties between the two countries, US Ambassador Donald Blome said on Friday.

He said during a meeting with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in Islamabad and congratulated the latter on his re-election, according to a statement.

The PM expressed satisfaction with the present state of bilateral relations. He stressed the need for maintaining the positive momentum by “regular convening of existing dialogue mechanisms, focused on trade, investment, energy, health, defence, education, agriculture and climate change.”

PM Shehbaz said that his government would focus on macro-economic reforms to stabilise the economy and attract foreign investment.

In this regard, he also highlighted the role of the Special Investment Facilitation Council that has been established to fast-track foreign investments in priority sectors in Pakistan.

A number of issues of bilateral and regional significance were also discussed during the meeting, including the situation in Gaza and the Red Sea, developments in Afghanistan, as well as the case of Dr Aafia Siddiqui, which was “raised forcefully by the Prime Minister.”

A separate statement from Acting US Mission Spokesperson Thomas Montgomery stated that Blome has expressed support for Pakistan’s democracy and the key role of an independent press.

The statement also cited that the two met to discuss a broad range of bilateral issues, including partnering with Pakistan on regional security, US support for continued economic reforms with and through the International Monetary Fund, trade and investment, education, climate change and private sector-led economic growth.

US Ambassador to Pakistan Blome and PM Shehbaz also discussed how both countries can work together to accelerate projects addressing climate change under the US-Pakistan Green Alliance framework.