Islamabad, 13 June 2023 (TDI): In an endeavor to fortify the deep-rooted bond between Pakistan and Azerbaijan, Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif has accepted an invitation from President Ilham Aliyev to undertake an official visit to Azerbaijan from 14th to 15th June 2023.
Accompanied by ministers responsible for pivotal areas of cooperation, the Prime Minister’s delegation aims to foster closer ties between the two nations.
During his visit, the Prime Minister will engage in comprehensive discussions with President Ilham Aliyev, focusing on vital spheres of collaboration such as trade, investment, and energy. Both leaders will also address regional and global concerns of mutual interest and explore avenues for cooperation in multilateral forums.
On May 27, 2023, Prime Minister of Pakistan wrote in a letter, “I look forward to visiting your beautiful country soon.”
Glimpse of 2022 Meetings between two Leaders
President Ilham Aliyev of Azerbaijan met with Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif of Pakistan in Samarkand in September 2022 and in Astana in October 2022.
Meeting of September 2022
President Aliyev praised the bilateral relations between Azerbaijan and Pakistan, highlighting their mutual support during the 44-day Patriotic War.
President Aliyev expressed gratitude for Pakistan’s support as the chair of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation. He commended Pakistan for not establishing diplomatic relations with Armenia during the 30-year occupation of Azerbaijani territories.
Prime Minister Sharif offered condolences for the recent martyrs in Azerbaijan and praised President Aliyev’s support during the floods in Pakistan.
The leaders discussed various areas of cooperation, including transport, logistics, agriculture, energy, and investment promotion. They assigned tasks to relevant state institutions for further collaboration.
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Prime Minister Sharif invited President Aliyev to visit Pakistan, which was accepted with pleasure, and President Aliyev extended an invitation for the Prime Minister to visit Azerbaijan. They also reaffirmed their support for each other’s positions on the issue of Jammu and Kashmir.
Meeting of October 2022
On October 12, 2022, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Azeri President Ilham Aliyev held a meeting in Astana during the Sixth summit of the Conference for Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia (CICA).
They agreed to fast-track discussions on bilateral energy collaboration and regional connectivity through robust engagement and leadership-level consultations in Islamabad.
The leaders reviewed progress on various ongoing initiatives related to connectivity, trade, and investment. Prime Minister Shehbaz emphasized the importance of close cooperation in the energy sector and nominated the minister of state for petroleum as the focal point for bilateral energy cooperation.
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They also discussed regional and global issues of mutual interest, and Shehbaz informed President Aliyev about his government’s efforts to assist flood-affected people in Pakistan, receiving the assurance of Azerbaijan’s full support.
Shehbaz commended Azerbaijan’s stance on Jammu and Kashmir, reiterated Pakistan’s support for Azerbaijan on Nagorno-Karabagh, and appreciated President Aliyev’s endeavors for long-term peace in the South Caucasus.
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