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ISLAMABAD, Feb 04 (APP): President Asif Ali Zardari on Wednesday said that Pakistan and Kazakhstan enjoy relations based on mutual trust, shared values and a common vision for regional prosperity, reaffirming Pakistan’s strong commitment to expanding cooperation with Kazakhstan in political, economic and regional domains.
The president expressed these views during talks with the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, who called on him at Aiwan-e-Sadr. This was the first face-to-face meeting between the two leaders, followed by detailed delegation-level talks focusing on bilateral, regional and international issues.
Welcoming President Tokayev, President Zardari noted that the visit, the first by a Kazakh president to Pakistan in over two decades, was timely and provided an important opportunity to inject new momentum into bilateral relations and translate political goodwill into tangible outcomes through enhanced cooperation and stronger institutional linkages.
Highlighting economic cooperation, President Zardari said that despite recent growth, bilateral trade remained far below its true potential. He expressed confidence that the Roadmap for Trade and Economic Cooperation 2025–2027, along with agreements on transit trade, customs cooperation and banking, would help remove practical obstacles and create new opportunities for trade, investment and business-to-business linkages. He also underlined the importance of cooperation in key sectors including energy, agriculture, minerals, information technology and defence production.
Emphasizing the centrality of regional connectivity, the President welcomed progress in rail and road linkages, cooperation on the CASA railway alignment and effective utilization of routes under the Quadrilateral Transit Trade Agreement. He said improved air connectivity and access to Pakistani ports would not only boost bilateral trade but also contribute to broader regional integration and economic stability.
Both leaders welcomed the signing of multiple bilateral agreements and memorandums of understanding, expressing confidence that these steps would give fresh impetus to bilateral ties and help unlock vast untapped economic potential.
Discussing regional and international issues, President Zardari reiterated Pakistan’s commitment to peace, dialogue and respect for international law. He stressed the need for collective efforts to promote stability in South Asia and the wider region, emphasizing that regional challenges should be addressed through cooperation rather than confrontation.
President Tokayev said Kazakhstan attached great importance to its relations with Pakistan and viewed this partnership as an important pillar of regional cooperation. Expressing satisfaction over the positive trajectory of bilateral ties, he reaffirmed Kazakhstan’s commitment to working closely with Pakistan to enhance connectivity, expand economic cooperation and promote peace and stability in the region.
He said his delegation included leading Kazakh business figures, including three billionaires, and described the target of increasing bilateral trade to one billion dollars as achievable. He also welcomed the growing number of Pakistani students and tourists in Kazakhstan.
Both leaders expressed confidence that the visit would mark the beginning of a new chapter in Pakistan–Kazakhstan relations and agreed to maintain close contact to advance shared goals of connectivity, economic cooperation and regional stability.
Earlier, in a special and dignified ceremony at Aiwan-e-Sadr, President Zardari conferred the Nishan-e-Pakistan on President Tokayev in recognition of his services for strengthening Pakistan–Kazakhstan relations. The ceremony was attended by Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif, members of the federal cabinet, Chief of the Air Staff Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmed Baber Sidhu, members of the diplomatic corps and parliamentarians, followed by a state banquet in honour of the visiting dignitary.