During his time in New York for the United Nations General Assembly, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif of Pakistan held important individual discussions with Muhammad Yunus, the Chief Adviser of Bangladesh, and Anura Kumara Dissanayake, the President of Sri Lanka. These meetings focused on strengthening bilateral ties between the nations.
These crucial diplomatic encounters took place on Wednesday, September 24, 2025, on the sidelines of the 80th session of the U.N. General Assembly, an event where all three prominent leaders were in attendance.
In a “warm and cordial” meeting with Mr. Yunus, Prime Minister Sharif and the Bangladeshi Chief Adviser thoroughly reviewed the existing state of relations between Pakistan and Bangladesh. They explored various avenues to enhance cooperation across diverse sectors, including boosting bilateral trade, improving regional connectivity, and fostering greater people-to-people exchanges, as stated in an official announcement from Pakistan.
The Prime Minister reaffirmed Pakistan’s strong commitment to nurturing constructive and forward-looking relationships with Bangladesh. These ties are envisioned to be deeply rooted in mutual respect, trust, and shared aspirations for regional peace and prosperity.
During their discussion at the U.N. Headquarters, Mr. Yunus warmly welcomed Pakistan’s initiative to deepen engagement and underscored the vital importance of strengthening bilateral trade and cultural bonds.
The official statement described the meeting as being held in a “cordial and friendly atmosphere,” which perfectly reflected the shared dedication of both countries to collaborate for the welfare of their citizens and the stability of the South Asian region.
Separately, Prime Minister Sharif’s meeting with President Dissanayake, held at Sri Lanka’s Permanent Mission to the U.N., encompassed a broad spectrum of topics. These included facilitating high-level exchanges, expanding bilateral trade, enhancing educational cooperation, promoting cultural exchanges, and strengthening defense collaboration.
The leaders also exchanged valuable perspectives on a variety of regional and global challenges. Both expressed deep satisfaction with the robust nature of Pakistan-Sri Lanka bilateral relations and pledged to continue working closely to ensure these ties flourish and grow stronger in the coming years.
Prime Minister Sharif reiterated Pakistan’s unwavering commitment to boosting bilateral engagement with Sri Lanka across all sectors and acknowledged the excellent cooperation between the two countries on various international platforms.
Significantly, both leaders mutually agreed to increase exchanges in the realm of sports, with a particular focus on cricket. They concluded their discussions by agreeing to maintain ongoing engagement for the continuous advancement of Pakistan-Sri Lanka bilateral relations.