Pakistan and Kyrgyzstan have agreed to further strengthen bilateral cooperation in trade, defence, energy, technology and security, while also signing an agreement aimed at promoting transit trade between the two countries.
According to a joint statement issued following Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s visit to Kyrgyzstan, the two sides signed a transit trade agreement and agreed to expand Kyrgyzstan’s trade and transit opportunities through Pakistani ports.
The agreement is expected to provide greater opportunities for trade connectivity between the two countries and help strengthen economic links between Central and South Asia.
The joint statement said Pakistan and Kyrgyzstan also agreed to cooperate in the field of virtual assets and work towards integrating financial markets to establish a secure digital asset ecosystem. Several agreements and memorandums of understanding were also signed in the fields of science, technology and medical education.
The two countries also agreed to enhance cooperation in the energy sector. Both sides stressed the importance of timely implementation of the CASA-1000 project and agreed to expand cooperation in electricity, hydropower, renewable energy and energy infrastructure.
The situation in Afghanistan was also discussed during the talks. Pakistan and Kyrgyzstan stressed that peace and stability in Afghanistan are important for strengthening connectivity between South and Central Asia. Pakistan also reaffirmed its support for Kyrgyzstan’s global environmental and mountain-related agenda.
On security matters, the two countries agreed to enhance cooperation against terrorism, drug trafficking, human trafficking, illegal migration and cybercrime. Agreements on extradition and mutual legal assistance in criminal matters were also signed.
Pakistan and Kyrgyzstan further agreed to strengthen defence cooperation and improve coordination between relevant institutions of the two countries. The development is expected to provide further momentum to bilateral defence and security ties.
The joint statement also emphasized the need for peaceful resolution of disputes and called for avoiding unilateral actions. Both sides stressed that Afghan territory should not be used against any other country.
The latest agreements are expected to give new momentum to Pakistan-Kyrgyzstan relations while creating greater opportunities for trade, transit connectivity, energy cooperation and regional economic integration.