Bishkek: President Asif Ali Zardari and Kyrgyz President Japarov have reiterated their commitment to further strengthen bilateral relations between Pakistan and Kyrgyzstan, especially in the areas of trade, economy and investment.
President Asif Ali Zardari has arrived in Kyrgyzstan on a four-day official visit. The joint statement issued after the meeting between the two leaders expressed satisfaction over the progress in Pak-Kyrgyz relations and stressed the need for effective implementation of the agreements reached during the Kyrgyz President’s visit to Pakistan last December.
The two leaders agreed to further promote high-level political contacts, cooperation between parliaments, governments and the Foreign Ministry. They also expressed their commitment to establish a strategic partnership between Pakistan and Kyrgyzstan with special focus on the areas of trade, economy and investment.
According to the statement, the relevant ministries and institutions were directed to intensify joint efforts to increase bilateral trade, investment and business ties, in addition to agreeing to make the joint intergovernmental commission and working groups more effective.
The two countries highlighted the importance of enhancing cooperation in the energy sector, especially the effective implementation of the CASA-1000 project, which was described as an important means of energy connectivity between Central and South Asia.
The meeting also discussed enhancing cooperation in the mining, agriculture, textiles, light industry, halal industry, health, pharmaceuticals, medical education, vaccine and biological products manufacturing, digital economy, information technology, tourism, banking and finance sectors.
The two leaders also agreed on the possibilities of improving transport, logistics and transit links between Central and South Asia, effective use of Pakistan’s ports and access to the markets of the Central Asian and Eurasian Economic Union by taking advantage of Kyrgyzstan’s transit capacity.
In addition to enhancing cooperation in the fields of education, science, culture, tourism, youth, medicine and public health, joint measures were also agreed upon against terrorism, extremism, drug trafficking, organized crime, illegal migration and cybercrime.
The two countries condemned the terrorist attacks in the region and the world and expressed their determination to continue close cooperation at the United Nations, Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) and other international forums.
President Asif Ali Zardari reiterated support for Kyrgyzstan’s priorities in the SCO, while the Kyrgyz President thanked Pakistan for its support in the election of a non-permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council for 2027-28.
During the meeting, the two leaders emphasized that a peaceful and secure environment is essential for harnessing the vast potential of cooperation and connectivity between Central and South Asia.
Addressing the delegation-level talks, President Asif Ali Zardari said that Pakistan and Kyrgyzstan will have to find new avenues for development together. He said that the two countries are bound by common religious, historical and cultural ties and were closer to each other in the past through the Silk Road.
President Zardari said that Pakistan is keen to supply its products to Kyrgyzstan at reasonable prices and the two countries can create new opportunities for cooperation in industry, trade and other sectors.
