Prime Minister Imran Khan and the president of Uzbekistan Shavkat Miromonovich Mirziyoyev will have a virtual summit tomorrow to review bilateral relations including political, trade, economic, security, connectivity, and people-to-people exchanges, the Foreign Office has reported.
The two leaders had earlier met on the sidelines of the 19th meeting of the Council of Heads of State of SCO member states in Bishkek on June 13-14, 2019, and the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) Forum in Beijing on April 26-27, 2019.
The two sides would focus on enhancing political and strategic linkages, fast-tracking transit and trade cooperation, and building educational and cultural collaboration. The Trans-Afghan Railway Project, agreed between Pakistan, Uzbekistan, and Afghanistan earlier this year, is a key area of focus.
“Relations between Pakistan and Uzbekistan are rooted deep in common faith, shared history, and cultural affinities—providing a firm foundation for increased cooperation,” the Foreign Office stated.
The two countries have increased interaction at all levels over the past two years. The foreign minister of Uzbekistan visited Islamabad on March 9-10, 2021 to hold bilateral talks with Foreign Minister Makhdoom Shah Mahmood Qureshi. During the visit, he also met the prime minister and delivered an invitation to attend the Central Asia South Asia Regional Connectivity Conference, to be hosted by Uzbekistan in Tashkent in July 2021.
In February 2021, the prime minister’s aide on commerce and investment Razzak Dawood visited Tashkent to hold trade and transit trade talks, and participate in the trilateral meeting for the construction of the Trans-Afghan Railway Project with Uzbek and Afghan authorities. A roadmap for the implementation of the railway line on Termez-Mazar-e-Sharif-Kabul-Peshawar route was signed.
Besides bilateral matters, the two leaders are expected to exchange views on key regional and international issues. They will also deliberate on enhancing mutual cooperation and coordination at international and regional fora.
The virtual summit will provide an opportunity to further build on existing bilateral cooperation in all areas of common interest, the Foreign Office stated.
