08/12/2015
PAKISTAN KAZAKHSTAN SIGN AGREEMENTS FOR TRADE AND TRANSIT - TRANSPORT POTENTIAL
Founder Editor Tazeen Akhtar..
Astana - Astana, Kazakhstan: Pakistani Prime Minister Mian Nawaz Sharif and Kazakh Prime Minister Karim Massimov signed a number of agreements here on Tuesday after their meeting.Their talks focused on a wide range of issues including expansion of bilateralcooperation in various sectors of the economy. In particular, the prospects for intensification of Kazakh-Pakistani cooperation in investment , energy sector,agriculture, as well as the possibility of using transit-transport potential of the two countries.
Heads of Governments noted the dynamic development of bilateral relations and called for further deepening the business partnership of Kazakhstan and Pakistan. After the talks, the sides signed a series of cooperation documents.
It may be mentioned that Pakistan Prime Minister reached at Astana on Tuesday and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Kazakhstan Yerlan Idrissov welcomed the Prime Minister of Pakistan in the Astana airport. It is planned that bilateral talks with President of Kazakhstan Nursultan Nazarbayev will be held within this trip. Besides, a number of documents are planned to be signed as well.
Premier of Pakistan believed that trade turnover between two countries was less then expectation that was only $33 million last year and both countries must work hard to increase trade between Kazakhstan and Pakistan.
Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif said on Tuesday there were great opportunities for trade expansion and investment promotion between Pakistan and Kazakhstan. In his meeting with Kazakhstan Prime Minister Karim Massimov in Astana, the two leaders exchanged views on a range of bilateral issues, as well as the regional situation.
The two countries should strength cooperation in engineering, food and agriculture, pharmaceuticals and highways, said Nawaz.
Massimov said his country wanted to become part of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) projects, and it would provide an alternative route for access to sea. He called for preparations for meeting of governmental commission between the two countries, saying cooperation in transport infrastructure would help promote bilateral trade.
Kazakhstan wants to cooperate with Pakistan for promotion of regional peace, said the Kazakhstan premier, adding that the two countries had always cooperated with each other at internal forums.
Earlier during the day, he arrived in Astana, Khazakhstan on a two-day official visit to discuss and strengthen bilateral ties.
He was welcomed by Kazakhstan’s Foreign Minister Erlan Idrissov on his arrival at the Astana Airport.
During the visit, at the invitation of the President of Kazakhstan Nursultan Abishevich Nazarbayev, a number of agreements and MoUs are expected to be signed between Pakistan and the world’s largest landlocked country.
The premier will be accompanied by a high-level delegation to the Central Asian country that borders both China and Russia and is rich in oil and gas. The Pakistani delegation will also hold meetings with Prime Minister Karim Massimov, a statement from the Foreign Office said.
Pakistan was among the first few countries that recognised and established diplomatic relations with Kazakhstan after its independence in December 1991 following the dismemberment of Soviet Union.
The premier’s visit to Kazakhstan is reflective of his vision to enhance and strengthen Pakistan’s relations with Central Asian Republics, the statement said. In May this year, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif visited Turkmenistan and Kyrgyzstan to push for gas and electricity deals, respectively.
ONBOARD PM’s SPECIAL AIRCRAFT: Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif on Tuesday said Pakistan intends to expand scope of its trade relations with Kazakhstan and all other Central Asian states.
Sharif expressed these views while talking to a delegation of businessmen and corporate heads, accompanying him on his special aircraft, en route the Kazakh capital Astana.
The prime minister said Kazakhstan was an important country of Central Asia offering immense business opportunities and stressed that it was the time for the traders of two countries to fully exploit this potential.
The businessmen gave suggestions to the Prime Minister on enhancing trade ties with Kazakhstan.
He hailed their proposals and said he would convey to the Kazakh leadership these recommendations, aimed at giving a boost to bilateral trade.
The prime minister also assured them to resolve the problems being faced by business community in the country on priority basis. –APP
