Islamabad; 14 April 2021 – The first Virtual Summit between Prime Minister Imran Khan and Uzbekistan President Shavkat Mirziyoyev was held today. During the wide-ranging talks, views were exchanged on bilateral, regional and international issues. The two sides highlighted the depth of Pakistan-Uzbekistan relations rooted in common faith, shared history and cultural affinities.
They also reiterated their determination to maintain momentum of high-level exchanges and further enhance the upward trajectory of the relationship. The two leaders reviewed the entire spectrum of bilateral relations — with particular focus on political, trade, security and defence, educational and cultural domains.
They also agreed to encourage more people-to-people contacts including through spiritual (ziyarat) tourism. Prime Minister Imran Khan underlined the importance of enhancing political and diplomatic linkages, fast tracking trade and economic cooperation, ensuring early finalization of the Preferential Trade Agreement (PTA) and Transit Trade Agreement (TTA), increasing security and defence cooperation, and taking steps to deepen mutual collaboration in the fields of education, culture and tourism.
The Prime Minister also underscored the importance of rail, road and air connectivity and highlighted the enormous potential that exists in diverse fields to build an expanded mutually-beneficial partnership.
The Prime Minister highlighted Pakistan’s economic security paradigm and the shifting focus to geo-economics. He stressed that Central Asia was a region of particular focus in this vision. The level of progress on the Trans-Afghan Railway Line Project, agreed between Pakistan, Uzbekistan and Afghanistan earlier this year, was reviewed.
The project would be a first step in linking the Central Asian transport network with Pakistani seaports of Gwadar, Karachi and Qasim. Prime Minister Imran Khan stated that, once completed, the initiative would transform the geo-economic dynamics of the entire regime.
The two leaders also discussed important global and regional matters of mutual interest, and reaffirmed the commitment to continue supporting each other at all international and regional fora, including the UN, OIC, SCO and ECO.
Prime Minister Imran Khan apprised on the latest situation in IIOJK, shared Pakistan’s perspective on issues of peace and security in South Asia, and underlined the imperative of peaceful resolution of the Jammu & Kashmir dispute.
The Prime Minister also highlighted Pakistan’s efforts to facilitate the Afghan peace process for lasting peace and stability in Afghanistan. He stressed that this historic opportunity must be seized by the Afghan parties to achieve an inclusive, broad-based and comprehensive negotiated political settlement.
The Prime Minister also underscored the importance of countering Islamophobia and promoting inter-faith harmony. Following Agreements/MoUs were signed on the eve of the Virtual Summit: i. MoU for Developing Further Cooperation in the Field of Agriculture. ii. Agreement on Mutual Recognition in the Fields of Conformity Assessment of Products, Standardization, Metrology and Technical Assistance. iii. MoU on Defence Cooperation.
President Mirziyoyev reiterated his invitation to Prime Minister Imran Khan to attend the high-level International Conference on regional connectivity, to be held in Tashkent in July 2021. Prime Minister Imran Khan thanked President Mirziyoyev and reiterated his invitation to him to visit Pakistan at the earliest convenience.
The two leaders expressed confidence that the understandings reached during the Virtual Summit will further deepen bilateral cooperation and contribute towards forging a stronger, multi-dimensional relationship between the two countries. It was agreed to continue the Summit-level political dialogue in future. A Joint Declaration was adopted at the conclusion of the Summit.
According to the Press Service of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan, the agenda included the current issues of bilateral multifaceted partnership, including the development of a constructive political dialogue, the expansion of practical interaction in trade, investment, transport and transit, exchanges between regions, and the promotion of cultural and humanitarian cooperation programs.
The Leaders of the two countries exchanged sincere congratulations on the start of the holy month of Ramadan, wishing the friendly peoples peace, well-being and prosperity.
It was noted that regular contacts at various levels in recent years have contributed to the dynamic development of relations, filling them with concrete content.
Despite the pandemic, intensive exchanges continued. The trade turnover and the number of joint business projects are growing.
Partnerships are being established between the regions. In February this year, a business mission led by the Governor of the Punjab state visited Namangan region.
A strategic project for the construction of the Trans-Afghan railway is being implemented jointly.
Cooperation in education, culture and tourism is also developing.
At the meeting, the main tasks were considered and priority measures were identified to deepen the partnership and practical interaction between Uzbekistan and Pakistan. A schedule of the upcoming events has been agreed upon.
The main attention was paid to the continuation of a constructive political dialogue, inter-parliamentary ties and close contacts within the framework of international and regional structures.
An agreement was reached to take additional measures for the promotion of priority projects in transport and transit, creation of favorable conditions for increasing the trade turnover and strengthening industrial cooperation, including the adoption of an agreement on preferential trade and a roadmap for cooperation in the main sectors of the economy, holding joint business forums.
Issues of resuming air traffic between the two countries will be studied.
The leaders also dwelt on the issues of an early peaceful settlement of the situation in Afghanistan. Support was expressed for the efforts aimed at the earliest possible economic recovery of this country.
Views were also exchanged on other aspects of the international and regional agenda.
In general, current Uzbekistan – Pakistan Summit was held in a traditionally open, businesslike and friendly atmosphere.
Following the meeting, a Joint Statement was adopted. Several important documents were signed in standardization and metrology, agriculture and other areas.
Pakistan- Uzbekistan First Virtual Summit ; Entire Spectrum of Relations Reviewed – YouTube
