Prime Minister Imran Khan left for his official two-day visit to Uzbekistan on Thursday on the invitation of Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev.

Khan is joined by Interior Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed, Minister for Information and Broadcasting Chaudhry Fawad Hussain, National Security Advisor Moeed Yusuf, Minister for Maritime Affairs Ali Haider Zaidi, senior minister for IT, Science and Technology Atif Khan. He is also accompanied by leading Pakistani businessmen, according to a statement by the foreign affairs ministry.

According to the MoFA, the PM and President Mirziyoyev will discuss “the entire gamut of bilateral relations, with a particular focus on trade, economic cooperation, and connectivity.” The statement also mentioned that the leaders will discuss views on “regional and issues of mutual interest.”

The PM is also addressing the first Pakistan-Uzbekistan Business Form and will hold the 6th Joint Inter-Governmental Commission and the first session of the Joint Business Council.

The PM will also participate in the International Conference on “Central and South Asia Regional Connectivity: Challenges and Opportunities”. According to the MoFA statement, this conference will be attended by “Ministers/high representatives from Central and South Asian as well as other important countries, International Organizations, International Financial Institutions, think-tanks and scholars.”

The PM and President have met twice before in the BRI Forum in Beijing and the SCO Summit in Bishkek. They also had a Virtual bilateral Summit in April 2021.