- PM Shehbaz says we have agreed to enhance bilateral trade, areas of joint cooperation and investment
- President Illham Aliyev says: ‘This connection is a big asset, we are brothers, we are friends, and we support each other on every international issue’
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and Azerbaijan on Thursday agreed to enhance the bilateral investment level of up to US$2 billion in areas of mutual beneficial projects.
In a joint press stakeout along with Azerbaijan President Illham Aliyev, after witnessing signing of agreements and MoUs in diverse areas between the two countries, Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif said “we have discussed an initial figure of $2 billion investment in areas of mutually beneficial projects”.
The prime minister hoped that when he will visit Azerbaijan in November this year, the two sides would be ready to ink agreements worth $2 billion to start with, as there was great potential in both sides to multiply this figure in years to come.
آذربائیجان کے صدر الہام علیوف کا وزیراعظم ہاؤس پہنچنے پرتپاک استقبال، تینوں مسلح افواج کے چاق و چوبند دستوں نے مہمان صدر کو گارڈ آف آنر پیش کیا۔ pic.twitter.com/ptMePAQ19R
— Government of Pakistan (@GovtofPakistan) July 11, 2024
“In today’s in-depth conversation, we have agreed to enhance our bilateral trade besides discussing areas of joint cooperation and joint investments,” he added.
The prime minister said, “The bilateral investment volume of less than $100 million does not reflect the strength of our brotherhood and friendship in the field of joint investment in areas which are mutually beneficial”.
Expressing satisfaction over the bilateral meeting, the prime minister said discussions were held on mutual trust and confidence where both sides expressed their unwavering commitment to move forward and touch higher levels of achievements in the fields of trade and investment.
— Government of Pakistan (@GovtofPakistan) July 11, 2024
He emphasized that Pakistan had always supported Azerbaijan’s stand while the brotherly country had always supported the cause of millions of Kashmiris who had rendered huge sacrifices for more than seven decades to achieve their right of self-determination as per UN Security Council resolutions.
He recalled the President Aliyev’s visit in 2017 during the tenure of then PM Nawaz Sharif, saying that history was repeating as Nawaz Sharif’s younger brother was now receiving him along with people of Pakistan.
PM Shehbaz hoped that the COP29 to be hosted by Azerbaijan in Baku would be a significant international event for all developing countries including Pakistan. “We are confident that under your wise stewardship, COP29 will deliver on the climate change related issues of developing countries like Pakistan.”
He said the Government of Pakistan was impressed by the beautification of Baku, therefore it has decided to copy Baku.
Azerbaijan President Ilham Aliyev said the brotherhood between the two countries was based on deep feelings between peoples of the two sides. “This connection is a big asset, we are brothers, we are friends, and we support each other on every international issue.”
He said, “Our state forward support on the issue of Jammu and Kashmir, is our commitment to our brotherhood and also our respect to international law, the rights of Kashmiris are ignored and violated for decades.”
He said the UN Security Council resolutions clearly indicated how this issue must be resolved but unfortunately UNSC resolutions had no mechanism of implementation.
“But we as brothers and friends will always stand side by side with you, with our brothers in Kashmir, with International law, with justice and I am sure justice will prevail,” he added.
He said the two sides were analyzing the projects for initial investment of $2 billion. “During our today’s conversation, we reviewed several projects in the areas of energy, connectivity, infrastructure, and defence industry,” he said adding “we will built strong partnership not only on political level that we already had but also on economic and trade investment levels.”
Red carpet welcome for Azerbaijan president in Islamabad
Azerbaijan President Ilham Aliyev landed in Islamabad on Thursday on a two-day official visit from July 11-12, at the invitation of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.
As President Aliyev alighted at Nur Khan Airbase from his special aircraft, he was received by PM Shehbaz along with his cabinet members, including Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi and Information Minister Attaullah Tarar.
Islamabad: President of Azerbaijan, H.E. Ilham Aliyev inspects the guard of honor being presented to him at the Prime Minister House.
🇵🇰 🇦🇿 pic.twitter.com/vzfF1ZV3eg
— Government of Pakistan (@GovtofPakistan) July 11, 2024
A 21-gun salute boomed in the backdrop to herald the arrival of the dignitary and two children, clad in traditional dresses, presented bouquets to him.
During the visit, President Aliyev will hold meetings with PM Shehbaz and President Asif Ali Zardari.
The two sides will engage in wide-ranging discussions on areas of mutual interest to further strengthen bilateral cooperation. Several agreements are expected to be signed during the visit.
The Azer foreign minister had visited Pakistan in May and held delegation-level talks in which Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar said both sides were taking measures to increase bilateral investment, especially in the energy sector.
آذربائیجان کے صدر الہام علیوف کا پاکستان میں شاندار اور پرتپاک استقبال۔
پاکستان کی حدود میں داخل ہوتے ہی آذربائیجان کے صدر کے طیارے کو پاک فضائیہ کے لڑاکا طیاروں نے حفاظتی حصار میں لے لیا۔ pic.twitter.com/KLCD2hSAvF
— Government of Pakistan (@GovtofPakistan) July 11, 2024
Dar — also the deputy prime minister — had expressed Pakistan’s full support to Azerbaijan during its presidency of climate summit COP29.
In a joint press conference the same day, the foreign ministers of both countries had expressed a strong commitment to further strengthen bilateral strategic relations.
Meanwhile, in a meeting with FM Bayramov, PM Shehbaz had stressed the need to further strengthen mutually beneficial cooperation in various sectors.
The Azer foreign minister had also met Chief of Army Staff General Asim Munir.
