President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev held talks with Prime Minister of Pakistan Shehbaz Sharif, which continued in an expanded format with the participation of the delegations of both countries.

The Head of State noted that it was a great honor for him to visit Islamabad and to experience Pakistan’s rich history, cultural heritage, and centuries-old traditions.

-This is my first state visit as President of Kazakhstan. I believe that it’s historic one, at least it’s a historic milestone in our time-tested partnership. I greatly value the friendship between our nations shaped by centuries of interaction along the Silk Road and the broader Islamic civilization, – Kassym-Jomart Tokayev said.  

The President emphasized the symbolic significance of the visit, which coincides with the 34th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations. He recalled that since the early years of Kazakhstan’s independence, Pakistan has been a key and reliable partner in South Asia.

According to Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, the Joint Declaration on Establishing Strategic Partnership to be signed today marks an important historic turning point and opens a new chapter in bilateral cooperation. The President expressed confidence that Astana and Islamabad have all the necessary conditions to give strong momentum to bilateral relations.

The Head of State noted that he arrived in Pakistan with a high-level delegation and a concrete package of proposals aimed at significantly expanding trade, economic, and investment cooperation, as well as engagement in other priority areas.

Particular attention was paid to transport connectivity, which remains one of Kazakhstan’s key priorities. Located at the crossroads of major East – West and North – South transport routes, Kazakhstan will continue to implement practical projects in transport and logistics, including in close coordination with Central Asian countries.

Kassym-Jomart Tokayev invited the Prime Minister of Pakistan to pay a state visit to Kazakhstan, reaffirming his readiness to host the distinguished guest this year to review the implementation of the agreements reached and to outline further steps to strengthen bilateral relations.

The meeting also underscored the importance of close cooperation between Kazakhstan and Pakistan within multilateral frameworks, including the United Nations, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, and other platforms.

In turn, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif warmly welcomed the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan to Islamabad.

– We thank you for taking the time to visit our brotherly country. The people of Pakistan, the Government, and I personally are pleased to welcome you to our land. Kazakhstan is a natural strategic partner for us. You can be assured that we are sincerely committed to working with your Government to strengthen bonds of friendship and build a solid partnership across economic cooperation, politics, defense, and the development of trade corridors, – the Prime Minister said.

He noted that Kazakhstan and Pakistan have significant potential to expand trade and economic cooperation, including in energy, industry, agriculture, transport, and digitalization, and emphasized the need to achieve tangible and meaningful progress across all areas of bilateral engagement.

In conclusion, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and Shehbaz Sharif reaffirmed their mutual interest in further deepening their multifaceted partnership for the benefit of the peoples of both countries.

Source : https://www.gov.kz/memleket/entities/mfa-islamabad/press/news/details/1155904?lang=kk