Pakistan, Kyrgyzstan to enhance economic, trade ties: PM

ISLAMABAD; Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani Tuesday said that Pakistan and Kyrgyzstan have a unique strategic position and both the countries would explore prospects in enhancing trade and economic ties.

Talking to reporters before his departure on a two-day visit to Kyrgyzstan, aimed at boosting ties between the two countries, he said, terrorism, extremism, drug trafficking and other crimes are common issues of the region and should be tackled through a joint strategy.

He said both Pakistan and Kyrgyzstan can play an important role to tackle these issues. He said that both Pakistan and Kyrgyzstan should also work for peace and stability in Afghanistan and in the region.

The Prime Minister said that Pakistan attaches great importance to its relations with Kyrgyzstan and its people and he is visiting the country at the invitation of his Kyrgyz counterpart for the first time.

He said that a high level delegation of FPCCI is also visiting Kyrgyzstan and more such interactions between the business communities of the two countries would strengthen trade and economic ties. Both the countries wanted to further strengthen cooperation in many areas, he added.

The Prime Minister said that both the countries would also sign an agreement to train personnel of the law enforcement agencies of the two countries.

He said both the countries would also sign a Joint Declaration to significantly enhance level of cooperation between Pakistan and Kyrgyzstan in diverse fields.

Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Hina Rabbani Khar and a 12-member group of Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industries (FPCCI) led by its president Senator Ghulam Ali is also part of the Prime Minister's delegation.

Gilani is the first democratic Prime Minister to visit the Kyrgyz Republic in last 16 years. Earlier, Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto visited the Central Asian state in 1995 after its independence in 1991.