Pak wants strong economic ties with Kazakhstan
Pakistan and Kazakhstan on Wednesday held delegations level talks in Astana and discussed ways and means to enhance cooperation in different fields between the two countries.
President Nursultan Nazarbayev led his delegation while Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif headed the Pakistan delegation at the talks.
Both sides discussed to increase cooperation between the two countries in the fields of trade, economy, energy and science and technology. They considered matters relating to establishment of strong economic and trade relations. They agreed that the joint ministerial commission will prepare a roadmap for increasing trade and economic cooperation.
Both sides reviewed matters to facilitate the traders of the two countries to get their visas in easy way. Matters relating to establishment of air link between Pakistan and Kazakhstan were also reviewed.
Prime Minister emphasised that the two countries should increase cooperation in oil and gas sector. Earlier, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and President Nursultan Nazarbayev held one-on-one meeting and discussed wide range of issues to enhance bilateral relations.
He said Pakistan wants strong economic and trade cooperation with Kazakhstan. The Prime Minister said both the countries have to increase their volume of trade. He said Pakistan gives high importance to its relations with Kazakhstan.
Naz Sharif said Kazakhstan is a brother Islamic country and is just like my second home. He said both the countries are bound in historic and cultural relations.
Kazak President said they value relations with Pakistan. He said lack of infrastructure is a hurdle in improvement of relations between the two countries. He appreciated the policies of the Pakistan government which resulted in economic stability.
Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif shared his vision of establishing energy and trade corridors with Central Asian states.
The prime minister said Pakistani ports provide the shortest route to sea for the Central Asian Republics. He said Pakistan is eager to see a prosperous Central Asia with all countries connected by rail, road and air links and generating business.
The Prime Minister said despite enormous economic complementarities, bilateral trade between Pakistan and Kazakhstan was below the actual potential. He said visa policy needed to be liberalized to gain maximum advantages in bilateral trade.
The Prime Minister called for further strengthening of bilateral ties between Pakistan and Kazakhstan in diverse areas, particularly trade, energy and infrastructure. He said Pakistan wants to have good relations with all its neighbours, including India.
About Afghanistan, Nawaz Sharif said, the two countries also support an inclusive Afghan-led and Afghan-owned reconciliation process. Talking about terrorism, the Prime Minister said Zarb-e-Azb operation against all terrorist groups without distinction had yielded positive results.
Kazakh Prime Minister Karim Massimov thanked Pakistan for supporting his country at all international fora. He said Kazakhstan would like to join the ChinaPakistan Economic Corridor project as it would provide an altnative route to it for access to sea.