PM Imran, Uzbek President Agree To Further Encourage People-To-people Contacts

Prime Minister Imran Khan held the first virtual summit with the President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev on Wednesday, during which bilateral, regional and international issues were discussed.

According to the Associated Press Of Pakistan (APP), the Prime Minister reiterated the commitment to maintain and accelerate the exchange of high-level delegations with Uzbekistan, especially at the political, trade, security and defence, educational and cultural levels.

Both the dignitaries also agreed to further encourage people-to-people contacts, including religious tourism.

Prime Minister Imran Khan called for enhancing political and diplomatic ties, trade and economic cooperation, preferential trade agreements (PTAs) and Highlighted the importance of ensuring the early finalization of the Transit Trade Agreement (TTA), enhancing security and defence cooperation and taking steps.

He said that mutual cooperation in the fields of education, culture and tourism needs to be further expanded.

The Prime Minister also highlighted the importance of rail, road and air connectivity and sought to enhance mutually beneficial partnership in various fields.

Highlighting the vast opportunities available, the Prime Minister, while focusing on Pakistan’s model of economic security and geopolitics, emphasized that Central Asia is a region with a special focus in this regard.

The level of progress on the agreed trans-Afghan railway project between Uzbekistan and Afghanistan was reviewed. The project will be the first step in connecting Central Asia’s transport network to Gwadar, Karachi and Port Qasim.

Prime Minister Imran Khan has said that once completed, the move will change the geopolitical situation of the entire government.

The two leaders also discussed important global and regional issues of mutual interest. Reiterated our commitment to continue supporting each other in all international and regional circles, including the ICO, SCO and ECO.

Prime Minister Imran Khan briefed on the latest situation in Indian-occupied Kashmir (IOJK).

He endorsed Pakistan’s position on peace and security issues in South Asia and called for a peaceful resolution of the Jammu and 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 the Afghan parties must seize this historic opportunity to achieve a formal, broad-based and comprehensive political settlement.

The Prime Minister called for combating Islamophobia and promoting interfaith harmony.

He also stressed the importance of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to promote further cooperation in the field of agriculture on the occasion of the Virtual Summit.

A memorandum of understanding on defence cooperation was also signed.

President Mirziyoyev reiterated his invitation to Prime Minister Imran Khan to attend a high-level international conference on regional connectivity in Tashkent in July 2021.

Prime Minister Imran Khan thanked President Mirziyoyev and reiterated his invitation to visit Pakistan as soon as possible.

The two leaders expressed confidence that the understanding reached during the Virtual Summit would further deepen bilateral cooperation.

A joint statement was also adopted at the end of the summit.