PM Shehbaz meets with Kazakhstan PM Olzhas Bektenov at SCO CHG margins

ISLAMABAD, Oct 15 (SABAH): Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif had a bilateral meeting with Mr. Olzhas Bektenov, Prime Minister of Republic of Kazakhstan, on the sidelines of the SCO Council of Heads of Government (CHG) Meeting in Islamabad, earlier today.

Welcoming Kazakhstan’s participation at the SCO CHG Meeting, Prime Minister reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to work with all SCO countries in advancing SCO’s principles and purposes. In this regard, Prime Minister recalled his visit to Astana in July earlier this year for the SCO Council of Heads of State Meeting and appreciated Kazakhstan’s contributions to strengthening cooperation among SCO countries.

Noting the warm and excellent bilateral relations between the two countries, the Prime Minister emphasized the need to enhance trade and investment, while also focusing on regional connectivity and security. To achieve this shared objective, the Prime Minister emphasized the need to maintain regular and high-level contacts, including through institutional mechanisms of bilateral engagement. The Prime Minister stressed to convene the meetings of Joint Working Groups on trade and agriculture at the earliest.

The Prime Minister of Kazakhstan congratulated the Prime Minister on the successful organization of the SCO Summit in Pakistan and lauded Pakistan’s positive role as the SCO Chair. He reiterated Kazakhstan’s firm resolve to work closely with Pakistan, both as part of SCO and bilaterally, to enhance regional connectivity, trade and development. He further said that Kazakhstan saw Pakistan as a leading trade partner is South Asia. Both sides agreed to jointly work to realize the true trade potential between the two countries.