WASHINGTON: Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi arrives here on Saturday on a visit that includes talks with the Trump administration and the new Pakistani government’s first interaction with the United Nations.

The foreign minister’s first official engagement of this week-long tour is an address to the Pakistani community in Washington, and the same day he flies to New York to attend the 73rd session of the UN General Assembly, which began on Sept 18.

The high-level General Assembly debate, however, begins on Sept 25 and is scheduled to last for nine working days. Mr Qureshi is expected to address the General Assembly on Sept 29.

Ecuadorian Foreign Minister María Fernanda Espinosa Garcés, the president-elect of the 73rd session, will chair the debate on “Making the United Nations Relevant to All People: Global Leadership and Shared Responsibilities for Peaceful, Equitable and Sustainable Societies.”

The main event of Mr Qureshi’s meeting, however, is an expected meeting with US Secretary of State Michael Pompeo in Washington.

This would be a follow-up to their first meeting in Islamabad earlier this month when they agreed to work together to “reset” the troubled relations between their countries.

APP adds: Foreign Minister Qureshi has thanked Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates for their hospitality during the visit by Prime Minister Imran Khan.

Shah Mehmood Qureshi, who accompanied the prime minister during his recent visit to the two countries, took to Twitter upon his return to express his sentiments on Thursday.

The foreign minister thanked Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz for giving the Pakistani delegation an opportunity to enter the holy Ka’aba and the Roza-i-Rasool (Peace Be Upon Him).

“I would like to thank King Salman for honouring us with an opportunity to enter the Roza-i-Rasool (PBUH) and Khana-i-Ka’aba and to offer prayers at Bab-i-Tauba. There could be no greater honour,” he said.

The foreign minister also thanked Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi Mohamad bin Zayed al Nahyan and said the UAE had a special place in the hearts of Pakistanis.

“Not only is the UAE an important trade and investment partner for us, but it also has a special place in the hearts of the people of Pakistan and is like a second home to Pakistan cricket,” he wrote in his tweet.

Published in Dawn, September 21st, 2018