Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz on Thursday discussed economic and political ties between Pakistan and Azerbaijan with President Ilham Aliyev with the two sides agreeing to further expand these into stronger multifaceted relations.
The Prime Minister who is here to represent Pakistan at the 9th ECO summit met President Aliyev at his Presidential Palace and discussed a wide-range of issues.
Prime Minister Aziz also extended Pakistan's full support to the stand of Azerbaijan over the Nagorno-Karabakh issue. "We fully and completely support the stand of Azerbaijan as it is just and fair, and we will continue to do so," he added.
The Prime Minister gave President Aliyev an overview of country's economic progress and said the extensive reforms were now paying dividend as all sectors were rapidly showing results.
He also informed him about the progress on Pakistan-India dialogue and said Pakistan desired resolution of all outstanding issues, including the issue of Jammu and Kashmir through negotiations. He said Pakistan was seriously pursuing the peace process, as it believed that resolution of the core issue of Kashmir was vital for lasting peace in the region.
He said Pakistan desired a solution in accordance with the wishes of the people of Kashmir and reiterated its desire to move up to the stage of conflict resolution rather than lingering at conflict management.
Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz also thanked President Ilham Aliyev for his country's "consistent and principled support" to Pakistan on the issue of Jammu and Kashmir.
On the Iranian nuclear issue, he said Pakistan believed in a negotiated settlement, as it was against use of force. He however pointed that Pakistan believed in peaceful uses of nuclear power for energy, under the IAEA safeguards.
About the growing economic co-operation with Afghanistan, Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz said Pakistan believed in a strong and stable Afghanistan as it was in the best interest of his country. He said Pakistan was still hosting over three million Afghan refugees.
He said the trade between the two countries has expanded from a mere 25 million dollars to over 1.5 billion dollars and was a source of strength for both their economies.
He said Pakistan and Azerbaijan were bound together in strong historical and cultural links and there was a need to translate these into wider economic, defence, security and political ties.
Earlier the Defence and Industries Minister of Azerbaijan Yawar Jamalof called on Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz in his hotel suite and discussed measures to widen scope in defence between the two countries.
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