Visit of Minister of Uzbekistan to Pakistan 1st November 2018

Foreign Minister of the Republic of Uzbekistan Mr. AbdulazizKamilov, undertook an official visit to Islamabad today with a high-level delegation. He was accompanied by Mr. IkhtiyorAbullayev, Chairman of the State Security Service and Mr. IsmatullaIrgashev, Special Representative of President of Uzbekistan for Afghanistan along with other representatives of Uzbek Ministry of Foreign Affairs and State Security Service of Uzbekistan.

The visit reinvigorated meaningful deliberations in all areas of bilateral cooperation including political, security & defence cooperation, peace process in Afghanistan as well as trade and investment promotion.Areas of mutual interest for future collaboration were also identified, including agriculture, tourism and cultural cooperation.

The two Foreign Ministers held delegation-level-talks at the Foreign Office in a very candid atmosphere. Uzbek Foreign Minister proposed ground-breaking initiatives like Railroad between Uzbekistan and Pakistan passing through Afghanistan. The project will add to Pakistan’s potential as the regional transit hub, enhance connectivity with Central Asia and beyond and aid in regional development and prosperity.

It was noted that Pakistan and Uzbekistan share similarity of views and a common approach that a stable and economically viable Afghanistan is a prerequisite for stability and development of the entire region. Both sides expressed readiness to facilitate and support Afghan-owned and Afghan-led peace and reconciliation process.

The two Foreign Ministers issued press statement at the end of their engagements at MoFA. Both sides agreed that the visit has opened up a new page in Pakistan-Uzbekistan relations andhoped that there would be no looking back from this point onwards. New strides in all areas of bilateral relations would be made in the days ahead.

In order to give further impetus to bilateral relations, it was agreed to hold the inaugural session of Bilateral Political Consultation and 6th session of Joint Ministerial Commission in Tashkent at the earliest possible.

Foreign Minister Kamilov also extended an invitation to Mr. Shah Mahmood Qureshi to undertake an official visit to Uzbekistan at an early date, which the latter accepted.

Islamabad,

01 November 2018

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