BAKU, (Azerbaijan), Oct 13(APP): Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif arrived here Thursday on a three day official visit.
Upon arrival, the Prime Minister was accorded warm welcome as Azerbaijan’s Deputy Prime Minister Ali Akhmedov and other high government functionaries received him at the Baku international airport.
Two children attired in national dress presented bouquets to Prime Minister Sharif and Begum Kalsoom Nawaz.
The Prime Minister is paying his first visit to Azerbaijan on the invitation of President Ilham Aliyev.
The Prime Minister is accompanied by a high level delegation
including his Special Assistant on Foreign Affairs Syed Tariq Fatemi.
During stay in Baku, the Prime Minister will hold talks with President Ilham Aliyev and Prime Minister Artur Rasizade on bilateral relations.
Economic cooperation, including trade and investment, will be the key focus of their talks.
They will also exchange views on regional and international
issues of mutual interest, with particular attention to the situation in South Asia and Pakistan’s policy of peaceful neighbourhood.
A Joint Declaration is expected to be signed during the visit.
The visit to Azerbaijan is reflective of the Prime Minister’s vision to enhance and strengthen Pakistan’s relations with the neighbouring and regional countries.
Pakistan accords high priority to its deep historical and
cultural bonds with the regional countries and is committed to expand cooperative relations with them.
Pakistan and Azerbaijan enjoy close relations, which are underpinned by commonalities of history, culture and faith.
These ties are characterized by mutual respect, shared
perceptions and common desire to promote peace, stability and development in the region.
The mutual support on the Jammu and Kashmir dispute and the Nagorno Karabakh issue is a testimony to the close understanding between Pakistan and Azerbaijan.
The two countries also share common views on major regional and international issues and cooperate closely in the regional and multilateral forums, including the United Nations, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation and the Economic Cooperation Organization.
Pakistan was among the first few countries that recognized the independence of Azerbaijan in October 1991, established diplomatic relations and opened a resident mission in Baku.
