BISHKEK: Pakistan and Kyrgyzstan have made significant progress in strengthening bilateral relations, exchanging 16 agreements and memorandums of understanding in multiple areas during Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s visit to Bishkek.
The agreements cover transit trade, education, foreign affairs, environment, climate change, scientific and technical cooperation, medical education, e-commerce, postal services and other areas.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov attended the signing ceremony, where both countries also exchanged documents aimed at expanding economic, educational and strategic cooperation.
Pakistan, Kyrgyzstan sign agreements
The two countries exchanged agreements and documents on transit trade, education and foreign affairs, while a memorandum of understanding was signed to strengthen cooperation against drugs, narcotics and smuggling.
Cooperation was also agreed in medical education, scientific and technical fields, environmental protection and climate change.
The chambers of commerce of the two countries signed an agreement aimed at promoting bilateral trade and strengthening links between the business communities.
Agreements were also signed on virtual assets, e-commerce and postal services. The two sides further agreed to declare Lahore and Kyrgyzstan’s Osh as twin cities, a move expected to strengthen cultural and people-to-people ties.
An agreement was also reached on the extradition of suspects, while memorandums of understanding were exchanged on strategic research and educational cooperation.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and President Sadyr Japarov signed a joint declaration, reaffirming their commitment to further strengthen relations between Pakistan and Kyrgyzstan.
Trade target set at $200m in two years
Addressing a joint press conference with President Sadyr Japarov, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said economic cooperation was a key focus of the talks.
He said Pakistan and Kyrgyzstan would further simplify laws and regulations to increase bilateral trade, with both countries setting a target of raising trade volume to $200 million over the next two years.
Shehbaz Sharif said a comprehensive plan would be prepared containing practical measures to improve trade procedures, promote joint investment projects, strengthen industrial cooperation and expand direct links between businesses in the two countries.
The prime minister also expressed Pakistan’s determination to strengthen trade links between South Asia and Central Asia and said connectivity remained central to the shared vision of both countries.
Stronger South-Central Asia connectivity
Prime Minister Sharif welcomed the transit trade agreement between Pakistan and Kyrgyzstan and said both sides would work to further simplify rules to facilitate greater trade.
He said Pakistan wanted to expand its brotherly relations with the Kyrgyz Republic, adding that the signing of various agreements marked the beginning of a broader phase of bilateral cooperation.
The prime minister said the bilateral talks focused particularly on strengthening trade relations. While a $200 million trade target was discussed for the next two years, he also expressed Pakistan’s longer-term ambition to increase bilateral trade to $2 billion.
He said Pakistan would help expand trade relations between the governments and private sectors of Pakistan and Kyrgyzstan.
Shehbaz Sharif also welcomed the establishment of a joint ministerial group to advance the CASA-1000 energy agreement.
He said the two countries would promote cooperation in education, science and technology and culture. He added that declaring Lahore and Osh twin cities would further enhance cultural ties.
Focus on transit, customs, administrative cooperation
The prime minister said Pakistan and Kyrgyzstan had reiterated their commitment to implementing the quadrilateral agreement on transit and transit trade.
Both sides agreed to work together to facilitate transportation, customs procedures and administrative matters, with the aim of improving regional connectivity and making trade more efficient.
Shehbaz Sharif said closer ties between South Asia and Central Asia were essential for economic connectivity and stressed the importance of strengthening direct links between businesses.
He also said Pakistan welcomed Kyrgyzstan’s successful hosting of the SCO summit and appreciated the Kyrgyz leadership for the arrangements.
Cooperation to expand in security, climate change
Pakistan and Kyrgyzstan also agreed to strengthen cooperation against terrorism and extremism. The two countries reached a consensus on addressing climate change and agreed to enhance cooperation at bilateral, regional and global forums.
The discussions also covered education, health, information technology and counter-narcotics, while greater cooperation was considered in transit trade, science and technology, medical education and climate-related matters.
Kyrgyzstan was described by Prime Minister Sharif as an important partner for Pakistan in Central Asia. He invited President Japarov to visit Pakistan and expressed hope that relations between the two countries would reach new heights.
Delegation-level talks held in Bishkek
Earlier, Pakistan and Kyrgyzstan held delegation-level talks at the Presidential Palace in Bishkek.
The Pakistani delegation was led by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, while the Kyrgyz delegation participated under the leadership of President Sadyr Japarov.
The talks included discussions on education, health, information technology and counter-narcotics, alongside proposals to increase cooperation in transit trade, science and technology, medical education and climate change.
Shehbaz receives guard of honour
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif was given a grand welcome at the Presidential Palace in Bishkek. Upon his arrival, Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov warmly welcomed the Pakistani prime minister. The national anthems of Pakistan and Kyrgyzstan were played during the official welcome ceremony.
A guard of honour was presented to Shehbaz Sharif, with a parade of the Kyrgyz Armed Forces saluting the prime minister. Shehbaz Sharif and President Japarov inspected the guard of honour before proceeding with the formal engagements.
