President Ilham Aliyev and Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif Address Press Following Bilateral Talks

Baku, The Gulf Observer: President Ilham Aliyev of Azerbaijan and Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif of Pakistan held a joint press conference today, following their productive discussions in Baku. The two leaders expressed their mutual commitment to strengthening the strategic ties between their nations.

Statement by President Ilham Aliyev

President Aliyev opened the conference by extending a warm welcome to Prime Minister Sharif, emphasizing the significance of their ongoing dialogue, which has bolstered the partnership between Azerbaijan and Pakistan. He highlighted the regular exchanges between the two countries, noting that the recent visits of both leaders to each other’s nations in 2023 were pivotal in deepening their bilateral relations.

The President reaffirmed Azerbaijan’s support for Pakistan’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, stressing the importance of their cooperation in international organizations. He acknowledged the need to increase trade relations, pointing out that although current trade turnover stands at only several tens of millions of U.S. dollars, both nations are working to significantly boost these figures. President Aliyev emphasized Azerbaijan’s plans to invest up to two billion U.S. dollars in Pakistan’s economy, a commitment first announced during his state visit to Pakistan last year. He further noted that concrete projects are currently under evaluation by Azerbaijani representatives.

The two leaders also discussed defense industry cooperation, with Azerbaijan expressing satisfaction with the defense equipment acquired from Pakistan. They explored opportunities for joint manufacturing in defense, highlighting the potential for expanding the geographic scope of their export supplies. Additionally, transportation and connectivity were addressed, with President Aliyev outlining Azerbaijan’s efforts to enhance its transportation infrastructure, particularly within international corridors such as North-South and East-West.

Reaffirming the strength of their brotherly ties, President Aliyev expressed his confidence that the various agreements signed during the visit would lay a strong foundation for future collaboration, especially in trade, defense, and infrastructure development.

Statement by Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif

Prime Minister Sharif began his statement by expressing his gratitude to President Aliyev for his warm hospitality and for the fruitful discussions that have further cemented the bond between Azerbaijan and Pakistan. He acknowledged that the friendship between the two countries enjoys broad political support in Pakistan, underscoring the unity across political parties in upholding this relationship.

The Prime Minister recalled the success of President Aliyev’s previous visit to Pakistan and praised the announcement of a two-billion-dollar investment from Azerbaijan, which he described as a milestone in their economic relations. He reaffirmed the commitment to finalize the related agreements within a month, with a signing ceremony planned for April 2025. This will mark a significant step forward in their economic cooperation.

Sharif also expressed appreciation for Azerbaijan’s unwavering support for Pakistan on international platforms, particularly regarding the Kashmir issue. He thanked President Aliyev for Azerbaijan’s steadfast position on Kashmir and for its support of the Palestinian cause, including the call for a permanent ceasefire in Gaza.

Prime Minister Sharif reiterated the importance of enhancing defense cooperation, particularly in joint defense production, and stated that a visit by an Azerbaijani delegation to Pakistan in April will focus on this priority. He also expressed strong support for Azerbaijan’s vision of an international infrastructure corridor, particularly the potential of the Gwadar Port to transform regional trade and economic dynamics.

Closing his statement, Prime Minister Sharif thanked President Aliyev for his leadership, vision, and unwavering support for Pakistan, emphasizing the enduring nature of their friendship and cooperation, which, he believes, will continue to prosper in the years to come.

Both leaders reaffirmed their commitment to mutual progress, peace, and prosperity, and expressed confidence that their cooperation will serve as a model for regional stability and global partnership.