By Pakistan and Azerbaijan on Friday reaffirmed their commitment to expanding mutually beneficial cooperation in energy, trade, connectivity, defence, and people-to-people linkages. These topics were discussed during a meeting between President Asif Ali Zardari and visiting Azerbaijan President Ilham Aliyev at Aiwan-i-Sadr.
Welcoming President Ilham Aliyev, President Zardari emphasized the excellent relations between the two countries and the potential for further improving ties in various areas of mutual interest. He stressed the importance of more regular engagements between the people and businessmen of Pakistan and Azerbaijan to strengthen bilateral ties.
President Zardari highlighted the significance of Gwadar port, suggesting that Central Asian countries and Azerbaijan could benefit from it for promoting regional trade, connectivity, and tourism, thereby bringing shared economic prosperity to the region. He welcomed the signing of Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) between Pakistan and Azerbaijan, noting that these MoUs would boost bilateral cooperation in trade, commerce, tourism, mines and minerals, science and technology, law and justice, and culture.
President Ilham Aliyev acknowledged 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 mentioned the potential for collaboration in the renewable energy sector.
Later, President Zardari hosted a banquet in honor of President Ilham Aliyev and his delegation, attended by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, federal ministers, parliamentarians, diplomats, and journalists at the President’s House.
On the sidelines of the visit, a high-level Azerbaijani delegation met with Federal Minister for Petroleum and Water Resources Dr. Musadik Malik to discuss enhancing bilateral trade and investment. Dr. Malik welcomed the delegation, led by Azerbaijan’s Minister for Energy Parviz Shahbazov, and provided a detailed presentation on investment opportunities in Pakistan. He highlighted Pakistan’s aim for diversified markets in the region and economic corridors stretching from Central Asia to Europe, and discussed investment opportunities in Pakistan’s mines and minerals sector, particularly gold and copper.
The meeting also covered cooperation in the oil and gas sector. Dr. Musadik noted Pakistan’s significant demand for energy and suggested both countries could collaborate on leveraging IT potential, especially in artificial intelligence, machine learning, and human resource training. The Azerbaijani delegation expressed keen interest in the proposals and agreed to strengthen working groups between the two countries. Both sides resolved to appoint focal persons, shortlist projects, and present them to their leadership for early approval.
