ISLAMABAD: President Asif Ali Zardari said that there is a need to further enhance bilateral cooperation with Uzbekistan in the areas of trade, economy, culture, and tourism.

He said that Pakistan attached utmost importance to its ties with the brotherly country of Uzbekistan, which were centuries old and based on shared religion, culture, and history.

The president expressed these views while talking to the visiting Foreign Minister of Uzbekistan, Bakhtiyor Saidov, who called on him, at Aiwan-e-Sadr, on Thursday.

Welcoming the foreign minister, the president said that both countries had great potential to increase bilateral trade and economic ties for the mutual benefit of the two sides. He highlighted that Pakistan was committed to regional connectivity, and the Central Asian countries needed to take advantage of its geographic location.

The president also suggested barter trade and using local currency to enhance bilateral trade between Pakistan and Uzbekistan, besides opening banks in the two countries to facilitate and improve business and commercial relations.

He underlined the need for further promoting people-to-people and tourism linkages to bring the two countries further closer.

The Foreign Minister of Uzbekistan, Bakhtiyor Saidov, called for developing a roadmap to further deepen bilateral ties and accelerate the partnership for the mutual benefit of Pakistan and Uzbekistan.

He also urged the need for an action plan to boost bilateral trade and economic cooperation. He expressed the hope that the transport corridor between the two countries would further improve bilateral ties.

The visiting foreign minister also conveyed the warm regards of the President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev for President Zardari.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2024