Islamabad: Pakistan and Azerbaijan have reiterated their commitment to deepen their bilateral relations, particularly focusing on enhancing cooperation in key sectors such as energy, trade, connectivity, defense, and cultural exchanges. This pledge came during a significant meeting between President Asif Ali Zardari of Pakistan and the visiting Azerbaijani President, Mr. Ilham Aliyev, held at Aiwan-e-Sadr.

According to Pakistan Peoples Party, the two leaders discussed various avenues for collaboration and welcomed the signing of several Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) aimed at bolstering ties in trade, commerce, tourism, mines and minerals, science and technology, law and justice, and cultural sectors. President Zardari emphasized the strategic importance of Gwadar port, underlining its potential to enhance regional trade, connectivity, and tourism, and to bring economic prosperity to the wider region including Central Asian countries and Azerbaijan.

President Zardari also noted the potential of Eastern nations in leading global prosperity and expressed Pakistan’s desire for sustainable and result-oriented engagement with the Central Asian Republics and Azerbaijan. On his part, President Aliyev highlighted the robust people-to-people exchanges between the two nations and stressed the need for stronger business-to-business relations to further economic ties. He also suggested exploring collaborative opportunities in the renewable energy sector.

The meeting concluded with a banquet hosted by President Zardari, attended by notable figures including Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif, various federal ministers, parliamentarians, diplomats, and journalists, where he conveyed warm regards to the people of Azerbaijan and reaffirmed Pakistan’s support for Azerbaijan.