The President of Uzbekistan and the Prime Minister of Pakistan outlined priorities for further deepening their strategic partnership

On February 5, in Islamabad, President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev and Prime Minister of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan Shahbaz Sharif held private talks and the first meeting of the High-Level Strategic Cooperation Council, the press service of the head of our state reports.

At the beginning of the meeting, the head of state congratulated the Prime Minister on the upcoming holy month of Ramadan and Pakistan Day.

Practical issues of further expanding and strengthening Uzbek-Pakistani strategic partnership and multifaceted cooperation in the context of implementing high-level agreements were discussed.

The high level of interaction achieved in recent years was noted with satisfaction. Political dialogue is actively strengthening, and interparliamentary and interagency exchanges are developing dynamically.

Last year, mutual trade reached nearly $500 million. Approximately 230 enterprises with Pakistani capital operate in Uzbekistan. The number of flights between the two countries has increased, and interbank correspondent banking relationships are strengthening.

Cooperation projects in the textile, pharmaceutical, chemical, agricultural, and other industries are being successfully implemented.

The parties welcomed the fruitful results of the political consultations and the meeting of the Intergovernmental Commission held in the lead-up to this visit.

An exhibition of industrial products from Uzbekistan is being held as part of the visit.

The need to hold the first meeting of the Coordinating Committee of the Foreign Ministries of the two countries in Tashkent in the near future was noted.

To establish long-term partnerships between the business communities, an agreement was reached to establish an Uzbek-Pakistani Business Council.

The goal of increasing mutual trade turnover to $2 billion in the near future was outlined. Decisions were made to significantly expand the range of products under the current Preferential Trade Agreement, as well as the list of phytosanitary permits for Uzbek agricultural products, and to actively utilize Uzbekistan’s trading houses in Lahore and Karachi.

In preparation for the visit, a project portfolio worth nearly $3.5 billion was formed in the fields of agriculture, electrical engineering, geology, pharmaceuticals, light and food industries, and others.

Particular attention was paid to developing transport and logistics connectivity. The importance of accelerating the implementation of the Trans-Afghan Railway project and promoting the Pakistan-China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan transport corridor was emphasized.

Interregional cooperation was identified as one of the key drivers for the development of economic cooperation.

The establishment of an Uzbek-Pakistani Forum of Regions was agreed upon, with the first meeting proposed to be held this year in the Khorezm region.

The issues of establishing systemic cooperation in the field of pilgrimage tourism were also discussed. To further bring the peoples of the two countries closer together, it was agreed to hold Uzbek Culture Weeks and Uzbek Cinema Days in Pakistan this year.

The head of state also proposed the establishment of a joint cultural center in Lahore to promote the heritage of the Baburids.

During the talks, views were exchanged on current international and regional issues, and a commitment to continuing close cooperation within multilateral structures was reaffirmed.

Finally, Shavkat Mirziyoyev invited Shahbaz Sharif to pay a return visit to Uzbekistan.