Pakistani Prime Minister called for strengthening trade ties with Uzbekistan during a two-day official visit to the country. Addressing the first Pakistan-Uzbekistan Business Forum today, the premier highlighted the relations between the two countries, stating that they go back “centuries”.
PM Khan said, “It is a great pleasure for me to visit Uzbekistan, a country which we are connected to culturally, historically and spiritually.”
He assured the business community that this relationship was just beginning to grow, voicing his appreciation for the gracious welcomed that had been extended to him upon his arrival.
“Our business and trade relationship is going to depend on how quickly we are able to connect with each other. The Trans Afghan Railway project is the most important project for Uzbekistan and Pakistan,” he said.
“For Pakistan, it connects us to Central Asia, to Uzbekistan which is the biggest of the Central Asian republics and beyond.”
Commenting on the situation in Afghanistan, the premier said that Pakistan wanted a political settlement in the neighbouring country for “mutually beneficial” connectivity between Pakistan and Uzbekistan. “For the business community, it will raise the standard of living in both the countries,” he said.
He said that he was a student in England when the European Union was formed and he had noted that the standard of living went up in all the countries which became a part of the bloc.
“Their trade increased with their neighbours and the standard of living went up. This is why this trip is important for us, because of the connections that our business community will make with your business community.”
He said that he was informed that many Pakistani business houses had already signed major contracts a day earlier, specifically in the textile sector. “We are all hoping that the connections between the two countries will get deeper by the time we go back,” he said.
He said that the government was working on ensuring frequent flights between the countries.
Talks between the leadership of the two countries will cover the entire gamut of bilateral relations, with a particular focus on trade, economic cooperation and connectivity.
During the visit, a number of agreements and MoUs will be signed in areas of mutual interest, including transportation of goods, cooperation between chambers of commerce of the two countries, trade, education, culture and tourism.
