Islamabad: Prime Minister of Pakistan Shehbaz Sharif and visiting President of Kyrgyzstan Sadyr Zhaparov signed a joint statement aimed at enhancing comprehensive bilateral cooperation between their countries.
According to Kuwait News Agency, the two countries exchanged 15 Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) and agreements across various areas. Both leaders highlighted the importance of expanding and deepening Pakistan-Kyrgyz relations. They reviewed progress on existing cooperation frameworks and expressed their shared commitment to further strengthening this partnership, particularly in trade, energy, connectivity, and people-to-people contacts.
The two sides agreed to increase bilateral trade and investment, setting an ambitious target of reaching a USD 200 million bilateral trade volume by 2027-2028. Recognizing the significance of energy connectivity for regional stability, both nations underscored its importance.
Additionally, the leaders reaffirmed their commitment to a peaceful and stable Afghanistan and a sustainable future for its people. They exchanged views on the ongoing peace efforts in Gaza and reiterated their unwavering support for the Palestinian people's right to self-determination and the establishment of an independent Palestinian state based on pre-June 1967 borders, with Al-Quds Al-Sharif as its capital.
Prime Minister Sharif mentioned that discussions also included further cooperation in the education sector, noting that over 2,000 Pakistani students are currently studying in higher educational institutions in Kyrgyzstan. President Zhaparov expressed readiness to implement new initiatives in education to further strengthen scientific collaboration. In terms of security, President Zhaparov reaffirmed the shared commitment to combating terrorism, extremism, and transnational crimes.