Prime Minister (PM) Shehbaz Sharif has surprised the Austrian Federal Chancellor Christian Stocker with his fluent German language.
During his two-day official visit to Austria, the first by a Pakistani Prime Minister in over three decades, the prime minister addressed the Chancellor in German to express gratitude for the warm hospitality and optimism for deeper bilateral cooperation in the years ahead.
“Mr Chancellor, I thank you from the bottom of my heart for your very warm welcome today and I look forward to continuing cooperation in the coming years,” the prime minister said in German, the national language of Austria.
German Chancellor also shared the video clip highlighting the moment with the caption, “Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif surprised everyone with his German language proficiency.”
This is not the first time Prime Minister Shehbaz has demonstrated his multilingual abilities on the international stage. He has previously spoken German, Persian, Russian, and Arabic during various engagements.
PM Shehbaz lands in Vienna to boost bilateral ties
Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif arrived in Vienna, Austria, on Sunday for a two-day official visit at the invitation of Austrian Chancellor Christian Stocker, aimed at strengthening bilateral ties and enhancing economic cooperation between the two countries.
Upon landing at Vienna International Airport, the Prime Minister and the Pakistani delegation received a warm welcome, with the Austrian armed forces presenting a guard of honour.
The Prime Minister is accompanied by a high-level delegation comprising Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Muhammad Ishaq Dar, Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Attaullah Tarar and Special Assistant to the Prime Minister Tariq Fatemi.
During the visit, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif will hold bilateral and delegation-level talks with Chancellor Stocker at the Federal Chancellery. The two leaders are also scheduled to co-chair a meeting of prominent businessmen from both sides to promote trade and investment opportunities.
The Prime Minister will address the Pakistan-Austria Business Forum, where he is expected to highlight Pakistan’s investment potential and underscore the government’s commitment to economic reforms and sustainable growth.
In addition, he will participate in a special event themed “Sustainable Development: The Path to Global Peace and Prosperity,” organised under the auspices of the United Nations in Vienna. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif is also scheduled to meet the Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency to discuss matters of mutual interest.
The official visit is expected to open new avenues of cooperation and add fresh momentum to Pakistan-Austria relations across political, economic, and multilateral domains.
