KHANKENDI, AZERBAIJAN: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif met with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev on Friday on the sidelines of the 17th Economic Cooperation Organisation (ECO) Summit, with both leaders pledging to deepen trade and investment links.
Sharif congratulated Aliyev on Azerbaijan’s hosting of the ECO Summit and praised the country’s hospitality, recalling the warm welcome given to the Pakistani delegation during its recent visit to the city of Lachin in late May.
The Pakistani leader also thanked Baku for its consistent support during Pakistan’s recent tensions with India, saying Islamabad had stood by Azerbaijan during challenging times as well.
The two leaders discussed the progress made in bilateral investment efforts and agreed to step up cooperation in trade and economic sectors. They reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening economic ties, particularly by encouraging more Azerbaijani investment in Pakistan.
Sharif said recent high-level contacts between the two sides had helped reinforce the relationship. He also reiterated his invitation for President Aliyev to visit Pakistan in the near future.
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