President reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to deepen cooperation with Uzbekistan in key sectors
President Asif Ali Zardari on Tuesday welcomed an invitation from Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev and emphasized the need to follow up on the results of the Uzbek leader’s recent state visit to Pakistan, the President’s Secretariat said.
The President received Ambassador Alisher Tukhtaev at Aiwan-e-Sadr, where he presented him with a letter from President Mirziyoyev. In the letter, Mirziyoyev thanked President Zardari, the government and people of Pakistan for the hospitality extended during his visit and for conferring on him the Nishan-e-Pakistan, an honorary professorship and a doctorate.
President Zardari reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to deepen cooperation with Uzbekistan in sectors such as food and agriculture, mining, information technology, tourism, health and banking. He welcomed Uzbekistan’s interest in importing halal meat, fruits and potatoes from Pakistan as a step towards improving bilateral trade.
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According to the Secretariat, President Mirziyoyev reiterated the invitation he had conveyed to him during the tête-à-tête. President Zardari accepted and ordered Pakistani authorities to coordinate with their Uzbek counterparts to complete the visit by the end of this year.
The president also expressed his gratitude for Mirziyoyev’s message of solidarity following the recent terrorist attack in Islamabad and reaffirmed the determination of the two countries to continue their joint efforts for peace, stability and development.
Ambassador Tukhtaev briefed President Zardari on Uzbekistan’s desire to develop Babar Park in Islamabad’s F-7 sector and said a concerned Uzbek minister would visit Islamabad next week to discuss the project with Pakistani authorities.
