FM Pakistan Arrives in Tashkent for ECO – Holds Meetings with Uzbek-Tajik Counterparts

Tashkent: 23 Jan 2022 – Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has arrived in Tashkent, Uzbekistan to attend the 26th Meeting of ECO Council of Ministers (COM)  on 23-24 January, 2023. The theme of the conference is “Year of Strengthening Connectivity”. He was warmly welcomed at the airport by first deputy foreign minister of Uzbekistan Mr. Furqat Siddiq.

Council of Ministers (COM) is the policy making forum of Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) that approves the decisions and annual workplan of the Organization. The 25th COM was held in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan in November, 2021.

As a founding member, Pakistan remains strongly committed to ECO which aims at promotion of effective regional cooperation, with special focus on communications, trade, culture and connectivity.

Foreign Minister met with Acting Foreign Minister of Uzbekistan in Tashkent today.
The two FMs agreed to further enhance mutually beneficial cooperation in all fields with special focus trade, energy and regional connectivity.

The parties considered the prospects for further development of the Uzbek-Pakistani strategic partnership in order to effectively implement the agreements reached at the highest level.

Regional policy issues, including the situation in Afghanistan, were discussed.
Both sides emphasized the importance of effective use of the existing potential of cooperation in the transport and communication sphere and activation of economic diplomacy.

Foreign Minister of Pakistan congratulated the Uzbek side on the successful chairmanship of the Economic Cooperation Organization.

Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari held meeting with Foreign Minister of Tajikistan Mr. Sirojiddin Muhriddin in Tashkent today. The two FMs expressed satisfaction on recent high engagements and agreed to further enhance the existing excellent bilateral relations and economic cooperation especially in trade, energy and connectivity.