Pakistan, Azerbaijan to Enhance Trade, Energy, Cultural Ties

Pakistan's President stresses to promote people-to-people contacts and tourism links with Azerbaijan

Thu Jan 23 2025
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ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and Azerbaijan have reaffirmed their commitment to enhance cooperation in the areas of trade, energy, air connectivity, and people-to-people contacts.

The consensus was reached during a meeting between President Asif Ali Zardari and the Minister of Defence Industry of Azerbaijan, Vugar Mustafayev at the President House on Thursday.

The President highlighted the historic and deep-rooted ties between Pakistan and Azerbaijan. He stressed the need to promote people-to-people contacts, tourism links, and trade and business ties to strengthen regional economic cooperation, Pakistani state media reported.

The President called for finding ways and means to enhance cultural linkages and further boost people-to-people exchanges. He welcomed the operationalisation of direct flights between Pakistan and Azerbaijan, expressing the hope that it would further enhance bilateral ties.

Over 72,000 Pakistanis visited Azerbaijan in 2024 for business and tourism purposes, marking a 25% increase from the previous year’s figure of 55,000 travellers.

The Minister of Defence Industry of Azerbaijan expressing his views emphasised the deep-rooted ties between the two countries, adding that Azerbaijan was keen on further boosting bilateral cooperation with Pakistan in the fields of energy, business, and culture.

He acknowledged the mutual support between the two nations during challenging times and expressed deep gratitude for Pakistan’s political backing of Azerbaijan, noting that the people of Azerbaijan would always cherish this support.

In July last year, Azerbaijan President Ilham Aliyev paid a two-day official to Pakistan during which the two countries agreed to enhance the bilateral investment level of up to $2 billion in areas of mutually beneficial projects.

The two sides signed 15 Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) and agreements to enhance bilateral cooperation across various sectors including trade, commerce, tourism, minerals, science and technology, law, justice, and cultural exchange programs.

The Azeri foreign minister visited Pakistan in May last year 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.

 

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