Pakistan and Kyrgyzstan on Thursday signed three agreements and 12 memorandums of understanding (MoUs) aimed at expanding cooperation across a wide range of sectors, including energy, trade, tourism, agriculture, sports, mining and geosciences.
The agreements also include a pact on the exchange of convicted prisoners, cultural cooperation, and the declaration of Bishkek and Islamabad as sister cities.
The two sides also exchanged MoUs on cooperation between the Pakistan Foreign Services Academy and the Diplomatic Academy of Kyrgyzstan.
The documents were exchanged by Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar and his Kyrgyz counterpart.
A separate MoU was exchanged between Pakistan’s Ministry of Law and Justice and the Kyrgyz Ministry of Justice.
Kyrgyz President Sadyr Nurgozhoevich Zhaparov and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif attended the signing ceremony.
Earlier, Kyrgyz President Sadyr Nurgozhoevich Zhaparov was accorded a warm and ceremonial welcome upon his arrival at the Prime Minister’s House, where Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif received the distinguished guest.
A smartly turned-out contingent of the armed forces presented a guard of honour, after which the prime minister introduced members of his team.
The two leaders also planted a sapling at the PM House before proceeding to formal talks.
The signing ceremony was held in the presence of President Zhaparov and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.
The two leaders also signed a joint communiqué to reaffirm their commitment to deepening bilateral ties.
Speaking at the ceremony, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif welcomed President Zhaparov to Pakistan, calling his visit significant for strengthening bilateral relations.
He noted that the Kyrgyz president is visiting Pakistan after two decades, underscoring the importance of the trip in opening new avenues of cooperation.
The prime minister said discussions covered cooperation in multiple sectors, alongside regional and global matters, adding that both sides reaffirmed their commitment to taking the relationship to new heights.
He said Pakistan will work with Kyrgyzstan to enhance cooperation in energy, trade and connectivity.
Shehbaz Sharif added that the Pakistan-Kyrgyzstan Business Forum would unlock fresh opportunities for economic collaboration, highlighting that the two countries aim to raise bilateral trade from $15 million to $200 million over the next two years.
