The two countries signed agreements for enhanced cooperation in diverse areas
Pakistan and Uzbekistan on Thursday signed a joint declaration to boost bilateral ties through improved connectivity and enhanced strategic partnership between the two countries.
The agreement was reached hours after Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev arrived in Pakistan on a two-day official visit on Prime Minister Imran Khan’s invitation. Imran Khan received the Uzbek President at the airport.
The two leaders had a one-on-one meeting here at the PM House as well as wide-ranging delegation-level talks. The two leaders stressed the importance of developing institutionalized cooperation between the two countries in five main areas, including:
- Political and diplomatic
- Trade and investment
- Energy and connectivity
- Security and defense, and
- People-to-people relations
After meetings, PM Imran Khan and the Uzbek President signed the Pakistan-Uzbekistan joint declaration – Next Step in the Strategic Partnership.
The Uzbek president stressed strengthening economic diplomacy and taking measures to bring existing relations with South Asia, especially Pakistan, to a new level.
Pakistan, Uzbekistan signed agreements for enhanced cooperation in diverse areas
The two countries also signed various agreements and memorandums of understanding (MOUs) for enhanced cooperation in the areas of:
- Security
- Trade
- Culture
- Tourism
- Connectivity, and
- Climate change
Prime Minister Imran Khan and Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev witnessed the signing ceremony at the PM House on Thursday.
- The MoU for promotion of pilgrimage tourism was signed by Minister for Religious Affairs Noor ul Haq Qadri and Uzbek Minister for Foreign Affairs Abdulaziz Kamilov.
- The MoU on cooperation in the field of environment and climate change was signed by Uzbek Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Investment and Foreign Trade Sardar Umurzakov and SAPM on Climate Change Malik Amin Aslam
- Pakistan-Uzbekistan Preferential Trade Agreement was signed by Uzbek Minister for Investment and Foreign Trade and Advisor to the PM on Commerce Abdul Razak Dawood
- Action plan to further develop cooperation in the field of security was signed by National Security Advisor Dr Moeed Yousaf and Secretary to the Uzbek Security Council Viktor Makhmudov
At a joint press conference with Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev in Islamabad, Prime Minister Imran Khan told media that trade between the two countries jumped by 50% in the last year while joint ventures between the business communities of Pakistan and Uzbekistan grew by 5%.
The Uzbek President, who is visiting Pakistan for the first time since assuming the office in 2016, also planted a sapling on the lawn of the PM Office.