Pakistan & Azerbaijan had exemplary relations, deeply embedded in common history, faith & culture: PM Shehbaz

SAMARKAND, Sep 16 (SABAH): Prime Minister Mian Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif met with President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev on the sidelines of SCO Heads of State Meeting in Samarkand on Friday.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed his gratitude to Azerbaijan for its support and solidarity with Pakistan as well as provision of generous financial assistance for the flood affected people. He highlighted that this massive natural disaster caused by climate change called for urgent action by the international community to address this global threat. The Prime Minister said that Pakistan and Azerbaijan had exemplary relations, deeply embedded in common history, faith and culture. The Prime Minister reaffirmed Pakistan’s principled support to Azerbaijan on Nagorno-Karabakh and congratulated on the historic success in liberation of its occupied territories. The Prime Minister also expressed condolences on the recent martyrdom of 71 Azeri servicemen in an unprovoked attack by Armenia.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif reiterated support for Azerbaijan’s right to self-defence in accordance with international law and in protection of its territorial integrity. While reviewing their bilateral relations the two leaders mutually resolved to enhance bilateral cooperation in diverse areas including political, economic, energy, defence, education and people-to-people links. The Prime Minister underlined the importance of unlocking the existing potential in the relationship by boosting bilateral engagement in the fields of trade, investment, agriculture, information technology and tourism.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif extended an invitation to the President of Azerbaijan to visit Pakistan. President Ilham Aliyev also invited the Prime Minister to visit Azerbaijan, at an early date.