April 15, 2021: The President of the Republic of Uzbekistan H.E. Mr Shavkat Mirziyoyev and Prime Minister of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan H.E. Mr Imran Khan held their first Virtual Summit on April 14, 2021.
President Shavkat Mirziyoyev and Prime Minister Imran Khan reviewed the existing status of bilateral relations and discussed its enhanced future trajectory. They also exchanged views on issues of regional and global interest, including the situation of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Recalling the centuries-old linkages between the peoples of the two countries, the two leaders highly appreciated holding the first Virtual Summit as a landmark event in boosting Uzbek-Pakistan relations. The two leaders agreed to enhance their multi-faceted bilateral cooperation in all areas of common interest. They emphasized closer coordination at international fora on issues of mutual convergence.
The leaders also decided to regularly convene existing political and economic mechanisms between the two countries, including consultations between their respective Foreign Ministries and to strengthen parliamentary collaboration. Cooperation at International Fora. The two leaders expressed satisfaction on the level of bilateral cooperation within the framework of international organizations, including at the UN. They reaffirmed their resolve to continue to support each other at the UN, SCO, OIC, ECO and other international and regional fora.
On the trade and economic cooperation side, the two leaders agreed that cooperation in the trade and economic sphere was a key priority to consolidate the partnership between the two countries. They also recognized the enormous economic potential for a mutually beneficial relationship. They agreed to enhance the volume of bilateral trade through adopting joint measures by diversification of trade, increasing business-to-business contacts, exchange of trade delegations and extending visa facilitation.
They also noted interest to increase industrial cooperation between companies and entrepreneurs of Uzbekistan and Pakistan, especially the growing inter-provincial cooperation after the visit of the Governor of Punjab to Namangan region of Uzbekistan. The two sides agreed to fast track finalization and signing of the Preferential Trade Agreement to enhance bilateral trade by eliminating trade barriers.
The two sides recognized the presence of huge opportunities to cooperate in spheres of agriculture, pharmaceuticals, textile, leather and chemical industry, energy and information technology. They agreed to promote mutual collaboration in these sectors.
The two leaders underscored the importance of regional integration and connectivity as a cornerstone of economic development and progress. They welcomed the exchange of high-level visits in the fields of trade, railway and aviation in this regard. The leaders also supported the project for the construction of “Termez – Mazar-e-Sharif – Kabul – Peshawar” Railway line, as an important initiative to establish railway connectivity from Central Asia to the Arabian Sea through Afghanistan and Pakistani Seaports of Karachi, Gwadar and Qasim.
They are in favour to resume regular flights between Uzbekistan and Pakistan by their respective airlines after stabilization of the COVID-pandemic situation. The importance of convening the Uzbekistan-Pakistan business week and business conference in Tashkent in July 2021 was also discussed.
In addition, they also signed MoU for Developing Further Cooperation in the Field of Agriculture, Agreement on Mutual Recognition in the Fields of Conformity Assessment of Products, Standardization, Metrology and Technical Assistance and MoU on Defence Cooperation on the sidelines of the Virtual Summit.
The two leaders highly appreciated the opportunity offered by the Virtual Summit for productive engagement and dialogue. They expressed confidence that the understanding reached during the Summit will further deepen bilateral cooperation and contribute towards developing cooperation in a frame of the multi-dimensional relationship. They agreed to continue the Summit-level political dialogue in future.
The President of Uzbekistan re-confirmed his invitation to Prime Minister Imran Khan, to attend the high-level International Conference on regional connectivity to be held in July 2021. Prime Minister Imran Khan thanked the President and reiterated his invitation to visit Pakistan at a convenient time.
The present “Joint declaration of Uzbek-Pakistan Summit” was adopted as the outcome of the Virtual Summit on Wednesday, 14 April 2021.
Press Release
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