ISLAMABAD – Pakistan and Azerbaijan Presidents reaffirmed their commitment to expand mutually beneficial cooperation in key areas such as energy, trade, connectivity, defense, and people-to-people linkages.
President Asif Ali Zardari and the visiting President of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev met at Aiwan-e-Sadr today.
Asif Zardari welcomed President Aliyev and noted that both countries share excellent relations, with significant potential for further improvement in various areas of mutual interest.
He emphasised the importance of regular engagements between the people and businesses of Pakistan and Azerbaijan to strengthen bilateral ties. Highlighting the strategic importance of Gwadar port, he pointed out that Central Asian countries and Azerbaijan could utilize it to enhance regional trade, connectivity, and tourism, thereby promoting shared economic prosperity.
President also welcomed the signing of Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) between Pakistan and Azerbaijan, stating that these agreements would boost bilateral cooperation in trade, commerce, tourism, mining, science and technology, law and justice, and culture.
President Zardari emphasized that the East has the potential to lead global prosperity and expressed Pakistan’s desire to build a sustainable, result-oriented engagement with the Central Asian Republics and Azerbaijan.
President Ilham Aliyev, speaking on the occasion, noted the high frequency of people-to-people exchanges between Pakistan and Azerbaijan and emphasized the need to promote business-to-business relations to enhance economic ties. He also suggested exploring joint ventures in the renewable energy sector.
Later, President Zardari hosted a banquet in honor of President Aliyev and his delegation, which was attended by Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif, federal ministers, parliamentarians, diplomats, and journalists at the President’s House. President Zardari expressed warm greetings to the people of Azerbaijan and reiterated Pakistan’s unwavering support for Azerbaijan.
Pakistani fighter jets escort Azeri President Ilham Aliyev’s plane in grand welcome
