ISLAMABAD, Pakistan: Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif on Thursday stressed the need for Pakistan and Azerbaijan to work together to enhance trade and investment, energy cooperation, defence, connectivity, education and cultural exchanges, and people to people contact.
In a meeting with the Ambassador of the Republic of Azerbaijan Khazar Farhadov held in Islamabad, the prime minister emphasized that Pakistan attached great importance to Azerbaijan and the two countries enjoyed excellent brotherly relations.
Shahbaz Sharif conveyed his greetings for President Ilham Aliyev and fondly recalled their telephone conversation on Eid Ul Fitr.
The prime minister also recalled his interactions with the leadership of Azerbaijan during his visit to Baku in June 2023 and reiterated his invitation to President Aliyev to undertake an official visit to Pakistan at his earliest convenience.
Amb. Khazar Farhadov, Ambassador of the Republic of Azerbaijan called on the Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif today.
The Prime Minister congratulated Azerbaijan on being selected as the host city for the COP 29 Summit meeting that will be held in November 2024.
The Prime… pic.twitter.com/at8o3fFREU
— Government of Pakistan (@GovtofPakistan) May 2, 2024
The premier congratulated Azerbaijan on being selected as the host city for the COP 29 Summit meeting that will be held in November 2024 and said he looked forward to receiving the Minister of Ecology of Azerbaijan next week, who will be carrying the formal invitation letter of the Azeri President for the COP 29 meeting.
To enhance bilateral cooperation between Pakistan and Azerbaijan, the prime minister said that he intends to send a high-level Ministerial delegation to Baku.
Pakistan was however, also prepared to convene the Pakistan-Azerbaijan Joint Commission meeting at an early date where both sides could discuss matters related to cooperation in various fields.
The Azerbaijan’s ambassador briefed the prime minister on the current state of bilateral relations, highlighting the recent inauguration of flights between Baku and Karachi, in addition to the flights already operating between Baku and Islamabad as well as Baku and Lahore.
Ambassador Khazar Farhadov informed that the Foreign Minister of Azerbaijan is also expected to visit Pakistan later this month.
The envoy also briefed the prime minister on the various institutional mechanisms and their upcoming meetings later this year.
While admiring the beauty of the city of Baku, Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif said that he wanted to replicate the beautification of Baku in Islamabad and suggested that both cities could explore enhanced cooperation through sister city agreement among them.
In the end, the prime minister once again said that Pakistan wanted to enhance its fraternal relations with Azerbaijan and also looked forward to the visit of President Ilham Aliyev to Islamabad soon.
