Pakistan and Kazakhstan to execute projects to widen bilateral cooperation

ASTANA: Pakistan and Kazakhstan have agreed to execute joint projects in the fields of defence, energy and communication to widen bilateral cooperation. 

The agreement was reached during a meeting between President Mamnoon Hussain and Prime Minister of Kazakhstan Bakytzhan Sagintayev in Astana on Saturday.

Mamnoon Hussain emphasized that the bilateral ties should be developed into multiple partnership and called for enhancing bilateral trade and relaxation of visa policy, reported Radio Pakistan.

The president thanked Kazakh government for opting a just stance on the issue of the membership of the nuclear suppliers group.

He said that Pakistan desired enhancing bilateral engagements in the fields of oil and gas and Pakistani firms could invest in diverse sectors of Kazakhstan.

Mamnoon Hussain also called for establishing the air and road links between the two countries to enhance the trade volume.

The president said there is a need for quadrilateral framework for regional economic stability comprising Pakistan, China, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan.

He also suggested the exchange of delegations between the two countries in the fields of industry, trade, culture and education which was accepted by the Kazakh prime minister.

In his remarks, the Kazakh prime minister said after its inclusion in Shanghai Cooperation Organization as a member, Pakistan ties in the region will improve.

He also thanked Pakistan for supporting Kazakhstan for non-permanent membership of the UN Security Council.

He expressed the Kazakhstan desire for extending cooperation with Pakistan in the fields of minerals, mining, transport and communications.

The Kazakh premier said Kazakhstan also desired to be part of the China Pakistan Economic Corridor and also proposed interaction among the experts from both the sides.

The president has arrived in Astana on a four-day official visit to attend the first summit of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation on science and technology.

On his arrival at Astana Nazarbayev International Airport, the president and first lady Begum Mehmooda Mamnoon Hussain were warmly received by Kazakh Minister for Defence and Aero Space Industry Beibit Atamkulov.

The heads of state and government from around twenty-two Muslim states and delegates from around fifty-seven states will attend the summit. The president is one of the eight Islamic world leaders to deliver their statements at the inaugural session of the summit.

Besides attending the OIC Summit he will also attend the closing ceremony of Astana Expo 2017 on Future Energy.