ASTANA, KAZAKHSTAN: Pakistan and Kazakhstan on Thursday agreed to diversify bilateral trade and explore the possibilities of expanding investment cooperation.
The bilateral relations were discussed in a meeting between Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif and President of Kazakhstan Kassym Jomart Tokayev here on the sidelines of the Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia (CICA) Summit.
The two leaders reviewed the bilateral relations, including trade, connectivity and energy. They agreed on enhancing technical level engagement to accelerate progress on agreed items.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif meets President of Kazakhstan H.E Kassym-Jomart Tokayev on the sidelines of the 6th CICA Summit in Astana, Kazakhstan. 13th October, 2022.#PMShebbazAtCICA #CICASummit2022 pic.twitter.com/p0YFOI8UPW
— Prime Minister's Office (@PakPMO) October 13, 2022
The prime minister recalled his meeting with the Kazakh president on the sidelines of SCO Summit at Samarkand in September 2022, which set the pace for reinvigorating multifaceted engagement.
He underlined the need for promoting joint ventures in energy, agriculture, technology, logistics, communication and construction.
Prime Minister Shehbaz also emphasized the importance of direct air connectivity for boosting business linkages, people-to-people contacts, and tourism. He underlined that Pakistan’s Special Economic Zones (SEZs) were open for investors from Kazakhstan.
He also invited Kazakhstan to benefit from Gwadar and Karachi ports for expanding their trade.
PAKISTAN READY TO PROVIDE TAJIKISTAN ACCESS TO GWADAR, KARACHI PORTS
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday highlighting the importance of promoting connectivity in the region reiterated Pakistan’s readiness to provide access to Tajikistan to Gwadar and Karachi ports.
In a meeting with President Emomali Rahmonv in Kazakhstan’s capital Astana, the prime minister emphasized the expansion of cooperation in the field of road transport and air links.
The two leaders, who met on the sidelines of the 6th Summit of the Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia (CICA), agreed on cementing high-level contacts, inter-parliamentary ties and technical level meetings to further promote substantive cooperation.
The prime minister underscored the need to boost cooperation in the energy sector.
It was agreed to work together for early completion of CASA 1000 project, which would be a harbinger of future energy corridors with Central Asia.
Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif meets President of Tajikistan H.E
Emomali Rahmon on the sidelines of 6th Summit of CICA, at Astana, Kazakhstan.#PMShehbazatCICA #CICASummit2022 pic.twitter.com/VePNaYKyK1— Prime Minister's Office (@PakPMO) October 13, 2022
PM Sharif updated the Tajik President on the rehabilitation work being undertaken by his government in the aftermath of the catastrophic floods in the country.
He stressed the need to make joint efforts to cope with the rising threat of climate change induced natural disasters.
President Emomali Rahmon assured PM Sharif of Tajikistan’s continued support in this regard, including despatch of an additional convoy of trucks carrying essential flood relief items.
The prime minister recalled his meeting with the Tajik President on the sidelines of SCO Summit last month in Uzbekistan’s historic city Samarkand and expressed satisfaction over the steadily increasing bilateral engagement in diverse areas.
The two leaders also discussed regional and global issues of mutual interest and agreed on the need to work together to strengthen peace, stability and security in the region.
Both sides also agreed to strengthen their engagement for fostering greater economic cooperation, particularly in the areas of trade, energy and connectivity.
