ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and Uzbekistan signed a joint declaration following the state visit of Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, reaffirming their commitment to expand strategic cooperation across trade, connectivity, security, education and culture, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said on Friday.
The declaration said the talks and agreements signed during the visit would “further strengthen the strategic partnership between the Islamic Republic of Pakistan and the Republic of Uzbekistan”.
Both sides expressed satisfaction over the trajectory of bilateral ties and agreed to deepen cooperation in political, economic and regional spheres, with the leaders holding “comprehensive and in-depth discussions covering the full spectrum of bilateral relations”.
The two countries reiterated their commitment to achieving a bilateral trade target of $2 billion in the coming years. They also agreed to expand industrial cooperation, promote joint ventures and enhance collaboration in sectors including pharmaceuticals, textiles, agriculture, minerals and engineering goods.
On connectivity, the leaders underscored the importance of regional integration and welcomed progress on the Uzbekistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan (UAP) Railway Project, terming it vital for transit trade and socio-economic development. They reaffirmed their commitment to the project’s early completion and to strengthening multimodal transport links.
The declaration highlighted growing cooperation in defence and security, with both sides agreeing to continue joint military exercises, training programmes and institutional exchanges. They also pledged closer collaboration between law enforcement agencies to combat terrorism, extremism and drug trafficking.
Addressing regional issues, the leaders underlined the importance of peace and stability in Afghanistan, calling for concrete action against terrorist groups and for preventing the use of Afghan territory for terrorism against other countries.
Both countries reaffirmed support for multilateral cooperation, vowing to coordinate closely at the United Nations and other international forums and to support each other’s candidacies.
On cultural and educational ties, the declaration noted plans to expand academic collaboration, research partnerships and people-to-people exchanges. The two sides also agreed to promote tourism cooperation, media exchanges and joint cultural initiatives to strengthen historical bonds.
Uzbek President Mirziyoyev thanked the government and people of Pakistan for their hospitality and invited Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to visit Uzbekistan, an invitation the prime minister accepted.
