Pakistan, Uzbekistan agree on boosting trade, investment: joint declaration signed

Pakistan and Uzbekistan, noting the need of enhanced connectivity, have agreed on expanding cooperation to boost trade and investment besides closer interaction in security and counter-terrorism. A Joint Declaration inked between Uzbekistan and Pakistan at the end of two-day official visit of Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif at the invitation of President of Uzbekistan Islam Karimov, said the two sides also agreed on a "sustained dialogue" to expand their bilateral ties.
The declaration said the two leaders had "friendly, substantive and constructive exchange of views" during their meeting and reached common understanding on a wide range of issues to further deepen Uzbekistan-Pakistan relations in various fields, and international and regional issues of mutual interest. Keeping in view the importance of "adequate and timely response" to challenges and threats to national and regional security, the two countries agreed on co-ordination between their law enforcement and security agencies, under the framework of Intergovernmental Agreement, on cooperation in fight against international terrorism, inked on March 6, 2005.
The two countries also agreed to expand cooperation in transportation and transit traffic and stressed joint actions to promote regional projects for developing efficient and secure transport and transit corridors to provide shortest access to sea routes and world trade markets.
They agreed to hold regular meeting of Joint Commission on Trade, Economic, Scientific and Technical Cooperation, as it was an important mechanism for co-ordination and development of bilateral economic relations and identifying new areas. The Uzbek leadership said cooperation with Pakistan was one of the important pillars of its foreign policy on cooperation with South Asian countries, while Pakistan noted that relations with Uzbekistan were a key element of Islamabad's engagement with Central Asian countries.
They agreed to continue bilateral political dialogue and consultations through official visits at to enhance mutual understanding on bilateral, regional and international issues. To boost bilateral trade, it was agreed to take joint measures to increase and diversify range and quantum of mutual trade. The need for developing long-term and mutually beneficial partnership between the business entities through joint business activities and active participation of the companies and enterprises in exhibitions and fairs in Uzbekistan and Pakistan was also stressed.
Pakistan and Uzbekistan reaffirmed interest in expanding and further strengthening long-term, mutually beneficial bilateral cooperation through sustained dialogue and engagement at all levels. The two sides noted with satisfaction to continued cooperation in fields of science and technology, education, information and telecommunications technologies, and called for its further expansion and deepening.
Prime Minister Sharif in his talks with the Uzbek leadership agreed to continue dialogue and endorsed to intensify bilateral contacts and practical cooperation in all fields of mutual interest. The two sides also stressed importance of further development of inter-parliamentary relations, enhancement of contacts and cooperation between the Oliy Majlis of Uzbekistan and the Parliament of Pakistan, to strengthen people-to-people contacts. The two sides agreed on enhanced cooperation between the foreign ministries of the two countries.
Pakistan expressed gratitude for setting up facility for Urdu language and Literature at Tashkent State Institute of Oriental Studies, which was one of the major institutions in Central Asia and CIS countries for training specialists in Urdu language. Pakistan and Uzbekistan noted that common history and culture between the two states for centuries were providing a solid foundation for development of modern Uzbek-Pakistan relations.
In this regard they also noted the activities of "Uzbekistan-Pakistan" friendship society which regularly organises cultural and scientific events, promotes exchange of scientific and cultural delegations. Pakistan and Uzbekistan were unanimous in view that peace and tranquillity in Afghanistan was essential to security and stability in the region. Both the countries extended support to the efforts of Afghan people for peaceful reconstruction and revival of the country, as well as achievement of intra-Afghan peace.
Pakistan acknowledged the chairmanship of Uzbekistan in International Fund for Saving the Aral Sea and measures taken to mitigate consequences of Aral Sea disaster. They also underlined the importance of practical realisation of the initiative on formation of a Nuclear Weapon Free Zone in Central Asia, proposed by President of Uzbekistan Islam Karimov in 1993 during the 48th Session of UN General Assembly.
They welcomed signing of the Protocol on security assurances to the Treaty on a Nuclear Weapon Free Zone in Central Asia by five nuclear countries in New York in May 2014. They supported comprehensive and democratic reforms of the UN to flexibly adapt to evolving realities to effectively address global challenges of peace and development. They agreed that Uzbekistan and Pakistan will continue to provide mutual support and strengthen cooperation in the UN and other international and regional organisations.
The parties expressed readiness to further strengthen cooperation in the framework of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation. It was agreed that Pakistan and Uzbekistan, together with the member States of the Organisation will undertake effort to complete at the earliest, the accession process of Pakistan to the SCO as a full member. Pakistan expressed appreciation for Uzbekistan's support in this matter.
Pakistan welcomed the forthcoming Presidency of Uzbekistan at the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), and expressed willingness to assist in every possible way in conducting the 43rd OIC Foreign Ministers meeting in Tashkent during the second half of 2016. The Prime Minister expressed gratitude to the President and the Uzbek people for the warm welcome and gracious hospitality extended during the visit. He also extended invitation to the President of Uzbekistan. The dates of the visit shall be agreed through diplomatic channels.