ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has reaffirmed its strong commitment to strengthening trade relations with Kyrgyzstan, setting an ambitious goal to increase the bilateral trade volume from the current $15 million to $200 million within two years.
This significant development unfolded as both nations signed a series of key agreements and Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) during a high-level ceremony held at the Prime Minister’s House on Wednesday.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Kyrgyz President Sadyr Zhaparov mutually oversaw the signing of several MoUs spanning a wide range of sectors, including mining, geosciences, energy, culture, tourism, foreign affairs, and prisoner exchange. In a meaningful gesture aimed at fostering closer ties between their peoples, Bishkek and Islamabad were formally designated as twin cities.
During the ceremony, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif warmly welcomed the Kyrgyz president, describing his visit as a “historic and highly significant” moment for strengthening bilateral relations. He highlighted Pakistan’s deep regard for its partnership with Kyrgyzstan, emphasizing that the newly signed agreements represent a major advancement in enhancing cooperation.
Kyrgyz President Sadyr Zhaparov expressed gratitude for Pakistan’s warm reception, referring to the country as “a trusted and important partner in South Asia.” He underlined the importance of the CASA-1000 energy project in meeting regional energy needs and spoke optimistically about expanding collaboration in education, science, technology, and transportation.
President Zhaparov also commended the ongoing counter-terrorism coordination between the two countries and noted their alignment on various global and regional issues. Concluding the ceremony, he extended a formal invitation to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to visit Kyrgyzstan, further reinforcing the spirit of partnership.
