Pakistan and Azerbaijan have renewed their commitment to deepen bilateral engagement in diverse areas of mutually beneficial cooperation.
An understanding to this effect came during a meeting between Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif with President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev on the sidelines of the sixth summit of the Conference for Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia at Astana, Radio Pakistan reported.
Both the leaders reviewed progress of various ongoing initiatives for promoting connectivity, trade and investment.
Prime Minister Sharif also briefed President Aliyev on his government’s efforts to rehabilitate the millions of flood-affected people in Pakistan and restore their livelihoods damaged by the unprecedented climate change induced natural disaster.
The prime minister underscored that damage to standing crops and inability to cultivate in the coming sowing season had exacerbated the threat of food shortage in the country. He said import of urea is essential to avert this danger and revive the agricultural produce in the country. President Aliyev assured him of Azerbaijan’s full support in this context.
Regional and global issues of common interest were also discussed at the meeting. Prime Minister Sharif appreciated Azerbaijan’s steadfast position on Jammu and Kashmir and its valuable role as member of the OIC Contact Group on Jammu and Kashmir.
The prime minister reaffirmed Pakistan’s principled support to Azerbaijan on former Nagorno-Karabagh and appreciated President Ilham Aliyev’s endeavors for bringing long-term and sustainable peace in the South Caucasus.
The prime minister underlined the need for fostering close cooperation between the two countries in the field of energy, which is a high priority area for his government.
The prime minister also nominated Minister of State for Petroleum as the focal point for bilateral energy cooperation between Azerbaijan and Pakistan who visited Baku last month.
Both leaders agreed to fast track discussions on energy collaboration between the two countries through robust engagement. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif proposed leadership level consultations in Islamabad aimed at advancing Regional Connectivity which was received positively.
