BISHKEK: Pakistan and Kyrgyzstan signed several agreements and memorandums of understanding covering trade, climate change, counterterrorism, information technology and other areas during Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s visit to Kyrgyzstan.
The signing ceremony was held in Bishkek in the presence of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov. The two leaders later addressed a joint news conference.
Sharif described the transit trade agreement between Pakistan and Kyrgyzstan as a welcome development, saying the two countries would work together to expand bilateral trade. He said Pakistan wants to increase the trade volume with Kyrgyzstan to $200 million.
The prime minister said Lahore and the Kyrgyz city of Osh would be declared twin cities, a move he said would help strengthen cultural ties between the two countries.
Pakistan and Kyrgyzstan also agreed to cooperate in combating terrorism and extremism, while pledging to facilitate stronger commercial ties between their private sectors.
The two sides reached an understanding on cooperation to address climate change and agreed to promote collaboration in education, science and technology, and culture.
Sharif welcomed the establishment of a joint ministerial group to advance the CASA energy agreement. He said both countries would work to simplify regulations and procedures to facilitate greater bilateral trade.
The prime minister said Pakistan wants to further expand its brotherly relations with Kyrgyzstan, adding that the signing of the agreements marked the beginning of a new phase of bilateral cooperation.