BISHKEK: With focus on enhanced cooperation in energy sector and regional connectivity, Pakistan and Kyrgyzstan on Thursday agreed to further improve and strengthen their bilateral relations in diverse areas including trade, economy, people-to-people contacts and tourism.

“Our political relations are excellent. We have agreed to further improve our economic relations, people-to-people contacts, tourism and energy,” Prime Minister Sharif told a joint press stakeout with his Kyrgyz counterpart Temir Sariyev here after holding one-to-one and delegation level talks.

The two sides also signed an agreement and a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to further strengthen relations in different fields. The Prime Minister said Pakistan-Kyrgyzstan relations continue to improve steadily.

He said the relations were based on mutual respect, common faith and shared interests. The relations were marked by cordiality and commonality of views on major regional and international issues, he added.

“We held wide-ranging consultations on issues relating to common challenges we face today and the opportunities available,” the prime minister said.

He said the two countries have shared interests on a broad range of issues, including peace and stability, countering terrorism, narcotics drugs and extremism, trade and economic cooperation, and regional integration.

The prime minister said Pakistan wished to further deepen and broaden relations with the Kyrgyz Republic in all areas of cooperation.

“During our talks today, the Kyrgyz Prime Minister and I reviewed all important aspects of our bilateral relations. We focused on the need for regular political exchanges between Pakistan and the Kyrgyz Republic, including high-level visits,” he added.

The prime minister said the two sides discussed ways of realizing full potential of the rich human and material resources, through expanding trade, increasing investments, improving infrastructure, building road and rail links, and enhancing energy collaboration. He said both the sides stressed the need for fast-track progress on energy projects. “It is highly satisfactory that all important agreements regarding CASA-1000 Project have been concluded,” he added. The Prime Minister said as Pakistan’s economic growth was heavily dependent on electricity CASA-1000 could help in mitigating Pakistan’s energy deficit. “We should collectively work for implementation of this project at the earliest,” he added. He said Pakistan wished to develop elaborate network of communication linkages. “We have taken the initiative to develop Gwadar Port and China-Pakistan Economic Corridor. This will facilitate regional connectivity and enable Central Asian States to use our ports. Similarly, we will have access to this region,” he added.

The prime minister said today’s meeting also allowed the two sides to discuss cooperation between Pakistan and Kyrgyzstan at the multilateral forums, especially at the UN, G-77, NAM and ECO. “We look forward to work in close cooperation with Kyrgyzstan for comprehensive reform of the UN Security Council that takes into account aspirations of all member states. Instead of creating more centres of privilege, the reform should pay particular attention to the interests of smaller states and make the Security Council more democratic,” he added. The prime minister said Pakistan looked forward to becoming a member of Shanghai Cooperation Organization and would appreciate the support of Kyrgyzstan to our request. He said the signing of accords between Pakistan and Kyrgyzstan today would help in further strengthening of relations between the two countries.

The prime minister said Pakistan would continue to provide training courses to Kyrgyz nationals. “More than 60 young and mid-career diplomats have been provided training at the Foreign Service Academy, Islamabad.” Courses were also being offered for training in the banking, postal and other sectors, he added. He was confident that shared values and commitment to enhanced regional cooperation would ensure even closer fraternal relations between Pakistan and the Kyrgyz Republic.

“I am very happy to visit the Kyrgyz Republic, which has been our very close friend since independence,” he said and thanked the government and brotherly people of the Kyrgyz Republic for the very warm welcome and generous hospitality that have been extended to him and his delegation.—APP