President Ilham Aliyev Receives Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif in Baku
Baku, The Gulf Observer: President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev on May 17 received a delegation led by Maryam Nawaz Sharif, Chief Minister of Punjab Province of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, during her visit to Baku for the 13th Session of the United Nations World Urban Forum (WUF13).
During the meeting, Maryam Nawaz Sharif conveyed the greetings of her father, Muhammad Nawaz Sharif, and Prime Minister of Pakistan Shehbaz Sharif to President Ilham Aliyev.
President Aliyev expressed gratitude for the greetings and requested that his own greetings be conveyed to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Muhammad Nawaz Sharif.
The Azerbaijani president also recalled the friendly relations between National Leader Heydar Aliyev and Muhammad Nawaz Sharif, highlighting the longstanding ties between the two countries.
Expressing satisfaction with participating in WUF13, Maryam Nawaz Sharif thanked President Ilham Aliyev for the invitation and praised the excellent organization of the international event. She noted that important global issues related to urban planning and sustainable development would be discussed during the forum in Baku.
The Punjab Chief Minister remarked that the beauty of Baku had deeply impressed her, describing the Azerbaijani capital as an outstanding example of harmony between cultural heritage and modern urban planning.
Maryam Nawaz Sharif also stated that during her visit she paid tribute at the grave of National Leader Heydar Aliyev, founder of modern Azerbaijan, honoring his memory with deep respect and reverence.
During the meeting, both sides commended the continued development of fraternal relations and the strategic partnership between Azerbaijan and Pakistan. Discussions focused on cooperation in political, economic, diplomatic, defense, and other sectors, while emphasizing the importance of interregional collaboration and the strong potential for expanding bilateral trade ties.
The meeting also highlighted that centers based on Azerbaijan’s “ASAN Khidmet” public service model have been established in Pakistan as part of growing cooperation between the two friendly nations.
President Ilham Aliyev further emphasized that Azerbaijan-Pakistan relations are currently developing within a trilateral framework involving Azerbaijan, Pakistan, and Türkiye, reflecting deepening regional cooperation among the three brotherly countries.
