Uzbekistan and Pakistan establish a high council for strategic cooperation, set $2 billion trade target

According to the presidential press service, discussions covered the full spectrum of issues related to strengthening and expanding the strategic partnership between Uzbekistan and Pakistan.

At the start of the meeting, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed sincere gratitude to President Mirziyoyev for the warm and hospitable reception. The leaders of both countries welcomed the dynamic development of multifaceted cooperation in recent years, highlighting active political engagement, productive inter-parliamentary and interdepartmental exchanges.

In 2024, bilateral trade exceeded $400 million, and the number of joint ventures reached 130. Trade houses have been opened in Karachi and Tashkent, and direct flights between Tashkent and Lahore have resumed. The two nations have also successfully held intergovernmental commission meetings, business forums, and a national industrial exhibition of Uzbekistan.

The negotiations placed special emphasis on expanding trade and economic cooperation. The leaders underscored the need for coordinated measures to increase bilateral trade to $2 billion, in line with the adopted “roadmap.”

Key priorities include diversifying the range of traded goods under the Preferential Trade Agreement, simplifying phytosanitary and quarantine requirements, streamlining customs procedures, harmonizing standards, integrating electronic trading platforms, facilitating access to procurement systems, and improving interbank settlement mechanisms.

Discussions also covered plans by major companies to implement joint projects in pharmaceuticals, electrical engineering, agriculture, agricultural machinery, geology, mineral resources, textiles, and leather industries.

To foster business and cultural ties between regions, President Mirziyoyev proposed hosting a bilateral Regional Forum in Uzbekistan.

The leaders also focused on enhancing transport connectivity and unlocking transit potential. It was noted with satisfaction that cargo shipments via the Uzbekistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan multimodal corridor have increased fivefold in recent years. To further boost freight turnover, the two sides agreed to establish a joint transport and logistics company.

Additionally, the leaders stressed the importance of joint efforts to advance the Trans-Afghan railway construction project. An agreement was reached to hold the next session of the Intergovernmental Commission in July this year in Lahore.

Both sides also supported further expansion of cultural, humanitarian, and tourism exchanges, agreeing to organize reciprocal Culture Weeks and tourism promotion events.

The meeting included discussions on pressing international and regional issues. The leaders reaffirmed their commitment to mutual support within multilateral organizations, including the United Nations, the Non-Aligned Movement, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization.

President Mirziyoyev and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif emphasized the need for joint efforts to combat terrorism, radicalism, Islamophobia, and other contemporary security threats.

To develop new areas of comprehensive cooperation, the two sides agreed to establish a High Council for Strategic Partnership and hold its first session next year.

At the conclusion of the talks, the leaders decided to draft and approve a joint "roadmap" to ensure the timely implementation of agreements reached and documents signed.