ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Thursday signed a joint declaration with Uzbekistan to further strengthen and expand the bilateral relations by reaching a treaty on strategic partnership between the two countries.
The document was signed hours after Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev arrived in Pakistan on a two-day official visit and was received by Prime Minister Imran Khan at the airport.
Last year in July, the Pakistani prime minister visited Tashkent to consolidate his country’s economic ties with Uzbekistan and discuss the possibility of enhancing regional connectivity since his administration hopes to tap the $90 billion export market in Central Asia.
“The Leaders of the two countries held comprehensive consultations and considered all aspects of bilateral relations,” said the joint declaration while adding that they “agreed to further deepen and expand strategic partnership in all areas” and “decided to conclude a treaty on strategic partnership.”
It said the Uzbek president emphasized strengthening economic diplomacy and set tasks to bring existing relations with South Asia, especially Pakistan, to a new level.
The two sides also agreed to institutionalize cooperation in the areas of politics and diplomacy, trade and investment, energy and connectivity, security and defense, and people-to-people contact.
Pakistan and Uzbekistan have already established a joint commission on security which held its first meeting in Islamabad last year in November.
“The Leaders reaffirmed the important role of the Termez-Mazar-e-Sharif-Kabul-Peshawar railway project for the future of the region,” the declaration added. “It was agreed to evolve a joint ‘Road Map’, which includes measures to develop a feasibility study for the project and start construction work on both sides.”
They agreed that the trans-Afghan railway project was the most economical and shortest possible route connecting Central Asia with Pakistan’s ports in Karachi and Gwadar.
The two countries also decided to expand their cultural ties by translating Pakistani television serials in Uzbek language and work on a joint production on the life of Zaheeruddin Babur.
President Mirziyoyev’s Pakistan visit coincides with the 30th anniversary of the diplomatic relations between the two countries.
He is accompanied by a high-level delegation comprising his country’s foreign minister, members of cabinet, senior government officials, businessmen and media persons.
The two sides signed several memoranda of understanding in the areas of sports, tourism and environment.
They also reached an agreement to cooperate in the field of television and radio broadcasting.
This is the Uzbek president’s first visit to Pakistan since assuming office in 2016.
The top leaders of the two countries have met several times in recent months. The Pakistani prime minister visited Uzbekistan in July 2021. Later, he met President Mirziyoyev on the sidelines of the Winter Olympics in Beijing on February 5, 2022.
