A joint declaration on the outcomes of the state visit of Uzbekistan President Shavkat Mirziyoyev to Pakistan has been issued by the Foreign Office on Friday.

The president of Uzbekistan paid a state visit to Pakistan on February 5-6, at the invitation of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.

PM Shehbaz and President Mirziyoyev held comprehensive and in-depth discussions covering the full spectrum of bilateral relations between the two countries.

The talks focused on reviewing the current state of bilateral relations and exploring avenues to further consolidate the strategic partnership between the two countries.

The two leaders noted the salience of the economic relationship in strengthening the bilateral ties, while acknowledging the fact that Uzbekistan was the first country in Central Asia with which Pakistan had signed the Transit Trade Agreement as well as the Preferential Trade Agreement.

Both leaders reaffirmed their resolve to continue efforts to expand trade, economic relations and industrial cooperation aimed at realising the true economic potential of the two countries and improving the well-being of their populations.

They welcomed the growing volume of trade and commerce between the two countries.

They recalled the setting of the USD 2 billion bilateral trade target, and reiterated their commitment towards achieving it by 2029.

The two sides reaffirmed their strong resolve to comprehensively develop and strengthen cooperation in order to support each other’s sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity, while advancing sustainable development aligned with the long- term national interests of the people of both states.

They exchanged views on the present status and prospects of cooperation across various fields, as well as on key regional and international issues of shared interest, including regional peace and security, connectivity, trade, culture, tourism, sports, and people-to-people contact.

Both leaders expressed satisfaction with the strong level of collaboration developed over the past 34 years since the establishment of diplomatic relations between Uzbekistan and Pakistan.

They noted that these relations are firmly anchored in longstanding bonds of friendship, as well as deep historical, cultural and spiritual affinities between the two nations.

Reaffirming their shared resolve, the leaders underscored their commitment to further deepen bilateral ties and elevate cooperation to a qualitatively new level that advances the core interests of both nations.

The two leaders expressed satisfaction with the positive trajectory of Pakistan-Uzbekistan bilateral relations and increasing interactions between the two sides, especially at the level of top leadership.

The leaders recalled the productive visit of the prime minister of Pakistan to Uzbekistan on February 25-26, 2025 and subsequent meeting held within the framework of the 17th Summit of the Economic Cooperation Organisation (ECO) on July 4, 2025, in Khankendi, Azerbaijan, as well as their telephonic conversations.

They expressed their commitment to fostering and expanding regular political dialogue at all levels.

The two sides reaffirmed their commitment to the joint declaration on the outcomes of the visit of the prime minister to Uzbekistan, signed on February 26, 2025.

They noted that the roadmap for the implementation of the decisions reached during the visit provided a comprehensive blueprint for further deepening of bilateral relations in multiple areas of cooperation.

The two leaders regarded the decision to establish HighLevel Strategic Cooperation Council (HLSCC) during the visit of the prime minister in February 2025 as a significant milestone.

This mechanism provides close guidance and monitoring of the top leadership on bilateral cooperation.

They welcomed the inaugural meeting of the HLSCC during the visit of the President of Uzbekistan to Pakistan, wherein the two leaders reviewed the entire gamut of the relationship and reached important decisions on furthering bilateral cooperation.

Recognising the important role of the parliaments in strengthening political, economic, cultural and humanitarian cooperation, as well as reinforcing the traditional ties of friendship between the people of the two countries, the two leaders underscored the significance of further enhancing interparliamentary cooperation.

They recalled the frequent exchange of visits of senior parliamentary delegations between the two sides, including the positive outcomes of the bilateral meetings during the visit of the Chairman of the Senate of Pakistan to Tashkent in April 2025 and the Speaker of the Legislative Chamber of the Oliy Majlis (Parliament) of Uzbekistan to Islamabad in September 2025.

Commending its work, the two leaders underscored the central role of the Joint Inter-Governmental Commission on TradeEconomic and Scientific-Technical Cooperation (IGC) between Uzbekistan and Pakistan, in promoting trade and commerce between the two countries.

They noted with satisfaction the conduct of the 10th Session of the IGC, held in Islamabad on February 2, 2026, and hoped to achieve the targets set therein in the stated timeframe.

Noting the significance of connectivity as a means of regional integration, transit trade and socio-economic development in the region, the two leaders welcomed the signing of the Framework Agreement of the Uzbekistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan (UAP) Railway Project, which took place on July 17, 2025, in Kabul.

They underscored the importance of the UAP Railway Project and reiterated their commitment to early completion of the project.

The two leaders also welcomed the unanimous endorsement of the Termiz-Kharlachi route for the UAP Railway Project, as well as agreement to jointly finance the Project Feasibility Study with the hope that it will be completed soon.

The two sides also welcomed the signing of an MoU on Multimodal Transport in September 2024, which aims to facilitate seamless transit and trade connectivity between Pakistan and Uzbekistan.

The two sides expressed their commitment to take measures necessary for its early operationalisation. Moreover, Pakistan reaffirmed its readiness to provide access to its seaports for Uzbek transit cargo and to make available its road network of international standards to support Uzbek trade and transit requirements.

The sides reiterated their commitment to enhancing regional connectivity and acknowledged the importance of this cooperation in promoting efficient, reliable, and cost-effective transport links, thereby contributing to deeper economic integration and strengthened bilateral and regional trade relations.

In order to create favourable conditions for developing industrial cooperation between the two countries, aimed primarily at exporting finished products to third countries, including the CIS and Europe, the sides agreed to establish joint management of economic or industrial zones in each country.

In this regard, the sides agreed to continue work in this area within the framework of the signed Memorandum of Understanding in this field.

Noting the important role of interregional dialogue in promoting trade and economic cooperation, unlocking new opportunities and identifying new areas of growth for collaboration, the two Leaders welcomed the signing of the Framework Agreement establishing the Interregional Forum.

The sides agreed to hold the first Forum of Regions of the two countries in the Republic of Uzbekistan in 2026 at mutually agreed dates.

Both leaders expressed their satisfaction on the progress made by both sides for completing phase-II of expansion of the PTA, signing the Bilateral Investment Treaty, agreeing to explore the possibility of signing an agreement on aligning SPS measures and mutual recognition of standards, to help Joint Ventures in pharmaceuticals, textile, leather industries, agriculture, minerals and engineering goods, and enhancing e-commerce cooperation.

They also emphasised the need to further diversify trade corridors between Uzbekistan and Pakistan to amend the existing Intergovernmental Agreement on Transit Trade for this purpose.

Based on centuries of shared civilisation and the legacy of the Great Silk Road, Pakistan and Uzbekistan reaffirmed their commitment to a transformative cultural partnership that bridges Central and South Asia.

Recognising the deep-rooted ties, they vowed to expand cooperation through joint heritage preservation and the revitalisation of linguistic links between Urdu and Uzbek.

The two leaders resolved to foster people-to-people contacts through regular cultural festivals and academic exchanges, ensuring that our historical brotherhood serves as a cornerstone for regional peace, intellectual growth, and shared prosperity in the modern era.

The two Leaders welcomed the signing of the Agreement on the Preservation, Research, and Broad Promotion of the Scientific Educational, Cultural, and Architectural Heritage of the Baburids, noting its importance as a significant step toward deepening cultural cooperation and preserving the shared historical legacy of the two nations.

Both leaders also agreed that the cooperation in higher education and research would contribute meaningfully to human capital development, innovation, and mutual understanding, and reaffirmed their resolve to further expand and institutionalise academic collaboration as an integral component of Pakistan-Uzbekistan bilateral relations.

The two sides took note of the strong interest shown by several higher education institutions of both countries in establishing institutional linkages, academic partnerships, collaborative research, and capacity-building initiatives.

The leaders expressed satisfaction over sustained collaboration between national media institutions.

They appreciated tangible achievements, including the implementation of the 2022 Broadcasting Agreement, content exchanges, and the ongoing joint production of the documentary “Mushtarak dillar”, which reflects the vibrancy of contemporary bilateral relations.

The two leaders agreed to expand the partnership by prioritising participation in the “Pearl of the Silk Road” International Film Festival and enhancing cooperation through media, including joint news bulletins, journalist exchanges and coordinated content production as given in the MoU signed between the Associated Press of Pakistan and the Uzbekistan Television (“O’zbekiston 24“).

Expressing satisfaction over the consistent progress achieved in strengthening bilateral cooperation in the field of tourism, supported by active high-level political engagement and improved air connectivity, including the commencement of direct flights between Tashkent-Islamabad and Tashkent-Lahore, both leaders noted the growing potential for cooperation in tourism and culture and emphasised the importance of enhancing people-to-people contacts.

Acknowledging these positive developments, the two leaders agreed to further institutionalise tourism cooperation through the activation of the Tourism Working Group, the development of a joint tourism promotion and marketing plan and the facilitation of exchanges among tour operators, media representatives, professional photographers and digital content creators.

They also agreed to encourage the organisation of joint exhibitions and road shows, cooperation in training and the promotion of partnerships between the private sector tour operators of the two countries.

The two sides expressed their readiness to maintain regular dialogue and build constructive cooperation in the area of security and defence.

They expressed satisfaction with the level of defence cooperation. They welcomed the recent engagements between the two sides in this regard, including the Staff Talks and high-level exchanges.

To further promote cooperation in this area, the two Leaders agreed to continue mutual participation in joint military exercises and training, and to cooperate in the field of professional development, exchange of best practices and collaboration between military institutions of the two countries.

The two Leaders expressed readiness to expand cooperation between law enforcement agencies of the two countries in particular, the fight against the three evils: terrorism, separatism, and extremism, as well as against drug trafficking.

Emphasising the importance of closer coordination at multilateral fora, the Islamic Republic of Pakistan and the Republic of Uzbekistan underlined the centrality of the UN and its institutions in addressing the complex challenges confronted by the world today.

The two sides reaffirmed their commitment to the UN Charter and its purposes and principles. They pledged to consider each other’s initiatives at multilateral fora.

The Parties emphasised the need to respect and uphold the principles of international law and treaties governing rational, efficient and sustainable use of water resources of transboundary rivers.

The Republic of Uzbekistan commended the Islamic Republic of Pakistan on its useful contributions to advance peace and security as the non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council for the term 2025-2026, and congratulated Pakistan on its successful Presidency of the UNSC during June 2025.

The Prime Minister of Pakistan congratulated the President of Uzbekistan on the successful hosting of the 43rd session of the UNESCO General Conference in Samarkand in 2025, noting its significance for the promotion of cultural dialogue and international cooperation.

The Republic of Uzbekistan expressed full support for the Islamic Republic of Pakistan to work as the rotating Chairman of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) for 2026-2027.

The Republic of Uzbekistan congratulated the Islamic Republic of Pakistan on assuming the Chairmanships of the Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure (RATS) of the SCO for the term 2025-2026, and the Economic Cooperation Organisation (ECO) for the term 2026- 2027.

Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to close coordination during the Chairmanships of Pakistan in order to further strengthen the important work of the two organisations.

Both sides agreed to extend favourable consideration to each other’s upcoming candidacies for various positions within international organizations particularly at the United Nations.

In addition, the Pakistan side noted its regular participation in the meetings of working groups on Uzbekistan’s accession to the WTO and its support for Uzbekistan’s early accession to the Organisation.

The two Leaders also exchanged views on their respective regional situations, including issues of their core concern and of mutual interest.

They underlined that sustained dialogue and peaceful engagement in accordance with the UN Charter, General Assembly and Security Council Resolutions remain essential for addressing longstanding issues and disputes, and advancing peace, stability and prosperity in South and Central Asia.

Underlining the significance of peace and stability in Afghanistan as key to lasting regional peace, stability and prosperity in general and the successful implementation of the UAP Railway Project in particular, the two leaders called on Afghanistan to address the threats of terrorism, and to take immediate and concrete actions to dismantle and eliminate all terrorist organizations based in Afghanistan, which continue to pose serious threats to regional and global security, and prevent terrorist organizations from using the Afghan territory for terrorism against any other country.

Uzbekistan and Pakistan reaffirmed the importance of their constructive roles in promoting peace, stability, and a just resolution of conflicts around the world.

Both sides expressed their support for the people of Palestine in their just struggle for self-determination as well as for the establishment of an independent, sovereign, and contiguous Palestinian State based on pre-1967 borders.

The two sides underscored that the talks held during the visit and the bilateral documents signed will serve to further strengthen the strategic partnership between the Islamic Republic of Pakistan and the Republic of Uzbekistan.

Uzbekistan President Mirziyoyev expressed gratitude to PM Shehbaz and the people of Pakistan for the warm hospitality during his visit to Islamabad.

Mirziyoyev invited PM Shehbaz to visit Uzbekistan at a convenient time in order to further develop comprehensive cooperation. PM Shehbaz kindly accepted the invitation.