ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and Azerbaijan have agreed to enhance and diversify bilateral trade and expand cooperation in energy, information technology, labour mobility, agriculture, transport connectivity and education.

The understanding was reached in the third round of Pakistan-Azerbaijan Bilateral Political Consultations held in Baku, according to a statement of the Foreign Office issued here on Thursday.

The Pakistan side was led by Foreign Secretary Dr Asad Majeed Khan and Deputy Foreign Minister Elnur Mammadov headed the Azerbaijani delegation. Ambassador Bilal Hayee also attended the meeting.

“The two sides held wide-ranging discussions to review the state of play of the multifaceted and historic bilateral relations and agreed to further deepen and expand the fraternal relationship. It was agreed to enhance and diversify bilateral trade and expand cooperation in energy, information technology, labour mobility, agriculture, transport connectivity and education,” the statement read.

It stated that the two sides expressed satisfaction on mutual cooperation at the international fora especially at the United Nations and the OIC.

The foreign secretary briefed the Azerbaijani counterpart about the grave situation in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) and thanked Azerbaijan for its principled stance on IIOJK at various international fora, including at the OIC Contact Group on Jammu and Kashmir. The foreign secretary reiterated Pakistan's position on Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity and sovereignty.

Given the growing economic potential between Pakistan and Azerbaijan, the Foreign Secretary also held a special session with a select group of prominent Azerbaijani businessmen and senior company representatives to discuss avenues of trade and investment.

In Baku, the foreign secretary also interacted with think tank experts and academics at a roundtable interaction organized at the Azerbaijan Diplomatic Academy University.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2023