Mirziyoyev and Zardari Hold Islamabad Talks to Strengthen Uzbekistan–Pakistan Strategic Partnership

Islamabad, The Gulf Observer: President of the Republic of Uzbekistan, Shavkat Mirziyoyev, held comprehensive talks with President of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, Asif Ali Zardari, at the Aiwan-e-Sadr as part of his state visit to Islamabad. The meeting was conducted in both a restricted format and an expanded session with the participation of official delegations.

The talks focused on the current state and future directions of multifaceted bilateral cooperation, with particular emphasis on strengthening the long-standing friendship and strategic partnership between Uzbekistan and Pakistan.

At the outset, President Zardari congratulated President Mirziyoyev on the successful outcomes of the inaugural meeting of the Strategic Cooperation Council, describing the ongoing state visit as historic and a key milestone in giving renewed momentum to bilateral relations. He also commended the large-scale socio-economic reforms underway in New Uzbekistan under the Development Strategy–2030, noting their positive impact on national growth and regional engagement.

Both leaders expressed satisfaction with the intensification of political dialogue and high-level contacts across various sectors. They noted steady growth in bilateral trade turnover, an increasing number of joint ventures, and the effective implementation of cooperation projects in priority areas of the economy. The productive outcomes of the recent Intergovernmental Commission meeting and political consultations, held on the eve of the Islamabad summit, were also highlighted.

The importance of expanding practical cooperation was underscored, particularly in the areas of trade, investment, and business-to-business engagement. The sides discussed coordinated measures aimed at increasing bilateral trade to US$2 billion in the near future, stressing the need for sustained institutional and private-sector collaboration to achieve this goal.

Special attention was given to interregional cooperation. In this context, the leaders agreed to convene the first meeting of the Forum of Regions in the historic city of Khiva later this year, viewing it as an important platform for strengthening direct ties between regions and business communities.

The presidents also exchanged views on enhancing cooperation within international and regional organizations, reaffirming mutual support and the closeness of their positions on key regional and global issues. A shared commitment was expressed to further expanding cultural and humanitarian exchanges, including joint initiatives in education, ecology, sports, and other people-to-people sectors.

At the conclusion of the talks, President Mirziyoyev extended an invitation to President Zardari to pay an official visit to Uzbekistan, an invitation that was warmly received as a reflection of the deepening partnership between the two countries.