SAMARKAND, Uzbekistan: Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif and President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev held a bilateral meeting on the sidelines of the SCO Council of Heads of State meeting in Samarkand on Friday and exchanged views on bilateral relations and discussed key regional and international issues.
The two leaders affirmed the commitment to enhance Pakistan-Kazakhstan relations in diverse fields particularly trade, investment and transportation links.
Emphasis was laid on facilitating people-to-people contacts through liberalized visa policies to boost trade, educational links, and investments.
Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif meets President of Kazakhstan H.E Kassym-Jormat Tokayev on the sidelines of SCO-CHS Summit in Samarqand, Uzbekistan pic.twitter.com/WAHe6Ct8ng
— Prime Minister’s Office (@PakPMO) September 16, 2022
The two leaders also exchanged views on enhancing mutual collaboration in the energy sector and agreed to undertake immediate expert-level studies in this regard.
It was further agreed to finalize the bilateral Transit Trade Agreement at an early date.
Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif underlined that Pakistan was committed to comprehensively upgrade engagement with Central Asian Countries through its “Vision Central Asia” policy.
The prime minister particularly emphasized the importance of connectivity and Pakistan’s pivotal position in providing the shortest access route to the sea.
The prime minister highlighted the significance of Trans-Afghan railway project connecting Uzbekistan to Pakistan through Afghanistan.
Shahbaz Sharif expressed the desire to link-up the existing Kazakhstan-Turkmenistan-Iran Railway line to Pakistan. Upon completion, this project will connect Kazakhstan to Pakistan under the existing framework of railway lines.
To promote regional integration, they also decided to enhance connectivity through land and air routes.
The prime minister also underscored the importance of peace and stability in Afghanistan for Pakistan and the region. He stressed that the international community had to remain engaged to support the Afghan people, to address urgent humanitarian needs, and take steps to stabilize the economy.
The prime minister stressed that sustainable peace and security in Afghanistan would contribute to regional peace, connectivity and progress.
The two leaders agreed to increase the frequency of high-level political exchanges.
