ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani said on Thursday that tremendous potential existed to enhance the trade and economic ties between Pakistan and Uzbekistan in various sectors requiring focused attention through identification of specific projects.
He emphasized upon the need to enhance the level of trade that commensurate with the close friendly and brotherly ties.
The Prime Minister was talking to an Uzbek delegation led by Minister for Agriculture and Water Management Ruziev Zafar Sharipovich here at the PM House.
Both Pakistan and Uzbekistan, the Prime Minister said, have a large agricultural base and could share the experiences in this sector to enhance production of agriculture crops particularly cotton.
Uzbekistan being the sixth largest producer and second largest exporter of cotton, besides, sharing knowledge and technology can supply quality cotton for Pakistan's textile sector, he added.
The Prime Minister while underlining Pakistan's energy requirements mentioned that Pakistan was prepared to buy surplus electricity from the neighbouring Central Asian countries.
The two brotherly countries can also have close collaboration in the oil and gas sector for which possibilities have to be explored to the mutual benefit of the two states, he added.
Highlighting the importance of Gwadar and Karachi seaports to facilitate trade between Central Asian Republics and Middle East, Africa and beyond, the Prime Minister proposed that a trilateral trade agreement between Afghanistan, Uzbekistan and Pakistan could be reached at in this regard.
On regional peace and stability, the Prime Minister reiterated that Pakistan was part of the solution and prepared to extend any help in this context. Pakistan, he added, supported Afghan led and Afghan owned efforts for stability in that country.
The Prime Minister mentioned that he had a very useful interaction with the Afghan leadership, including President Karzai during his last visit to Afghanistan and expressed confidence that the talks at the highest level would prove fruitful in establishing better understanding between the two countries.
The common threat of terrorism and extremism being faced by the entire region requires a common strategy to eliminate this menace, he said and emphasized that the strategy needed to be supported and complemented with political and socio-economic development of all the regional countries to bring about economic prosperity.
The Prime Minister said that he was pleased to note that the Joint Ministerial Level dialogue between Pakistan and Uzbekistan was progressing well and hoped that both sides would be able to take strides in the right direction for the mutual benefit of the people of the two countries.
The banking sector, in both the countries, needs to be encouraged to play their role in promoting trade and economic ties he added. In the same context, he expressed the hope that the National Bank of Pakistan would be facilitated to open its branch in Tashkent.
The Prime Minister said that he would be visiting Uzbekistan soon to interact with the Uzbek leadership to further promote the existing bilateral relations.
Leader of the Uzbekistan delegation Ruziev Zafar Sharipovich said that Uzbekistan recognized Pakistan's leading role in the region including its efforts to fight terrorism which was a challenge not only for this region but the entire world.
Pakistan's role for peace in Afghanistan is equally appreciable, which will not only help stability in that country but will also help bring about economic development in the entire region particularly in the Central Asian Republics, he added.
In the same context, the Uzbek Minister said that his country was developing connectivity, through both road and railways, with Afghanistan which could be further extended to Pakistan as well.
The Uzbekistan Minister for Agriculture and Water Management agreed with the Prime Minister that great potential existed in both the countries which could be effectively utilized for the benefit of the people of two countries.
He assured that Uzbekistan would extend complete cooperation to Pakistan in the agricultural and energy sectors.
The Uzbek Minister said that the government and the people of Uzbekistan were eagerly waiting for the forthcoming visit of Prime Minister Gilani to their country, which he said, would further strengthen bilateral relations and better understanding.
He expressed satisfaction over the progress on the on-going Joint Ministerial Talks and mentioned that these talks would prepare ground for reaching agreements likely to be signed during the visit of the Prime Minister.
Other members of the Uzbek delegation included Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Anvar Salihbaev and Ambassador of Uzbekistan to Pakistan Oybek A. Usmanov.
Minister for Water and Power Syed Naveed Qamar, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ms. Hina Rabbani Khar, Secretaries Economic Affairs, Food and Agriculture and other senior officers were also present in the meeting.
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