ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and Azerbaijan on Thursday discussed enhancing investments worth $2 billion in areas of mutually beneficial projects. Azerbaijan President Ilham Aliyev is in Islamabad on a two-day official visit, at the invitation of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.
Addressing a joint press stake-out in Islamabad this evening, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said teams of both countries will further exchange views on this matter tomorrow and hopefully both countries will be ready to ink an agreement during his upcoming visit to Azerbaijan.
PM Shehbaz said Pakistan and Azerbaijan have immense investment potential worth billions of dollars in years to come. He said the two countries have agreed to enhance bilateral trade as well.
The Prime Minister said Pakistan has always supported Azerbaijan’s stand on Nagorno-Karabakh, while the latter has extended similar support for the cause of Kashmiris, who have made huge sacrifices to achieve their right of self-determination as per UN Security Council resolutions.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif also conveyed his best wishes to the Azerbaijan President and its people as the country is prepared to host the COP29 in Baku. It will be a significant international event for all developing countries, including Pakistan.
The Prime Minister said we are quite confident that under your leadership COP29 will deliver on the Climate Change related issues of developing countries like Pakistan.
Speaking on the occasion, the Azerbaijan President said his country looks forward to building a strong partnership with Pakistan at the economic and trade level.
Expressing satisfaction over the existing level of political ties between the two countries, President Ilham Aliyev said we will increase our bilateral trade volume.
The Azerbaijan President said they have identified nine initial priority areas for preferential trade. He said we have discussed several projects in areas of energy infrastructure and defence industry.
Referring to Shehbaz Sharif’s last year visit to Azerbaijan, lham Aliyev said the visit was a breakthrough and the two countries have always supported and cooperated with each other.
He said we now engage in practical elements of cooperation like trade, energy, investment and corridors of transportation.
Earlier, President Aliyev landed 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.
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.
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 Azerbaijan 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.
Dar — also the deputy prime minister — had expressed Pakistan’s full support to Azerbaijan during its presidency of the climate summit COP29.
براہ راست: پاکستان اور آذربائیجان کے درمیان مختلف شعبوں میں تعاون کے حوالے سے مفاہمتی یادداشتوں اور معاہدوں پر دستخط کی تقریب https://t.co/f7PlmTn5UC
— Government of Pakistan (@GovtofPakistan) July 11, 2024
