JOINT DECLARATION BETWEEN THE REPUBLIC OF UZBEKISTAN AND THE ISLAMIC REPUBLIC OF PAKISTAN
Islamabad: November 18, 2015
At the invitation of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan, H.E.
Mr. Islam Karimov, the Prime Minister of the Islamic Republic of
Pakistan, H.E. Mr. Muhammad Nawaz Sharif, paid an official visit to the
Republic of Uzbekistan on 17-18 November 2015.
The President of Uzbekistan and the Prime Minister of Pakistan had a
friendly, substantive and constructive exchange of views and reached
common understanding on a wide range of issues to further deepen
Uzbekistan-Pakistan relations in various fields, and on international
and regional issues of mutual interest.
The Republic of Uzbekistan and the Islamic Republic of Pakistan
(hereinafter referred to as the “Parties”) reaffirmed their interest in
expanding and further strengthening long-term, mutually beneficial
bilateral cooperation through sustained dialogue and engagement at all
levels in areas such as, security and counter-terrorism, trade and
investment, education, science and cultural relations. Being convinced
that the deepening of cooperation conforms to the interests of the
people of both countries and promotes the enhancement of regional
stability and prosperity, the Parties declared the following:
1. The Parties unanimously stated that the official visit of the Prime
Minister of Pakistan, H.E. Mr. Muhammad Nawaz Sharif to Uzbekistan was
an important step in the consistent development of a dialogue between
the countries and logical continuation of regular contacts at the
highest level. The consultations, held between the Parties, endorsed
their mutual will to intensify bilateral contacts and practical
cooperation in all fields of mutual interest for the two countries.
2. The Uzbek side confirmed that strengthening the cooperation with
Pakistan is one of the important pillars of its foreign policy on
cooperation with the South Asian countries. The Pakistan side noted that
relations with Uzbekistan are a key element of Islamabad’s engagement
with Central Asian countries.
3. The Parties agreed to maintain bilateral political dialogue and
consultations through the organization of official visits at the highest
and other levels in order to enhance the mutual understanding on
bilateral, regional and international issues.
4. The Parties reaffirmed that their cooperation is based on mutual
respect for the development model chosen by each country in accordance
with its domestic conditions and based on their national interests.
5. The Parties highly emphasized the importance of further development
of inter-parliamentary relations, enhancement of contacts and
cooperation between the Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan and
the Parliament of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, which is an
important component of strengthening people to people contacts and
promoting mutual understanding and trust.
6. Noting similarities and proximity of the approaches of Uzbekistan and
Pakistan on the majority of regional and international issues, the
Parties reaffirmed their readiness to expand and deepen cooperation
between the foreign ministries of the two countries through the
mechanism of political consultations.
7. Emphasizing the importance of adequate and timely response to the
challenges and threats to national as well as regional security, the
Parties expressed their intention to continue coordination between the
law enforcement and security agencies of the two countries, including
under the framework of the Intergovernmental Agreement between the
Republic of Uzbekistan and the Islamic Republic of Pakistan on
cooperation in the fight against international terrorism, signed on
March 6, 2005.
8. The Parties acknowledged the further development of mutually
beneficial trade and economic cooperation as one of the key priorities
in the bilateral relations. They highlighted the importance of taking
joint measures to increase and diversify the range and quantum of mutual
trade.
The Parties also urged for developing long-term and mutually beneficial
partnership between the business entities of the two countries through
joint business activities and active participation of the companies and
enterprises in exhibitions and fairs held in Uzbekistan and Pakistan.
9. The Parties agreed to expand mutually beneficial cooperation in the
field of transport and transit traffic, particularly considering the
issues of cooperation in the field of connectivity, including air links
between the two countries.
They noted the necessity of taking joint actions aimed at promoting
regional projects for developing efficient and secure transport and
transit corridors that provide the shortest access to the sea routes and
world trade markets.
10. The parties agreed that regular meetings of the Joint Commission on
Trade, Economic, Scientific and Technical cooperation between Uzbekistan
and Pakistan, which is an important mechanism for the coordination and
development of bilateral economic relations, will facilitate identifying
new promising areas of cooperation and implementing concrete joint
projects in various sectors of economy.
11. The Parties noted with satisfaction the continued cooperation in the
fields of science and technology, education as well as information and
telecommunications technologies, and called for its further expansion
and deepening.
The Pakistan side expressed its gratitude for the conditions, created in
Uzbekistan for learning Urdu Language and Literature at Tashkent State
Institute of Oriental Studies, which is one of the major institutions in
Central Asia and CIS countries for training specialists in Urdu
language.
12. The Parties noted that the common history and culture between two
States for centuries has been providing a solid foundation for the
development of modern Uzbek-Pakistan relations.
The Parties noted with satisfaction the successful activity of the
friendship society “Uzbekistan-Pakistan”, which regularly organizes
cultural and scientific events, promotes exchange of scientific and
cultural delegations.
13. The Parties have unanimous opinion that the achievement of peace and
tranquility in Afghanistan is essential to the security and stability
in the region. They supported the efforts of the Afghan people for
peaceful reconstruction and revival of the country, as well as
achievement of intra-afghan peace.
14. The Pakistan side acknowledged the chairmanship of the Republic of
Uzbekistan in International Fund for Saving the Aral Sea and the
measures taken to mitigate the consequences of the Aral Sea disaster.
15. The Parties underlined the high international and political
importance of practical realization of the initiative on formation of a
Nuclear Weapon Free Zone in Central Asia, which was proposed by the
President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Islam Karimov in 1993 during the
48th Session of UN General Assembly.
The Parties welcomed signing of the Protocol on security assurances to
the Treaty on a Nuclear Weapon Free Zone in Central Asia by five nuclear
countries in New York in May 2014.
16. The Parties reiterated importance of the United Nations to serve as
universal instrument in ensuring global peace and security, finding
resolutions for regional conflicts, creating conditions for
socio-economic development of the countries and protecting environment.
The Parties supported comprehensive and democratic reforms of the UN to
flexibly adapt to changing/evolving realities and to more effectively
address global challenges of peace and development. Uzbekistan and
Pakistan will continue to provide mutual support and strengthen
cooperation in the UN and other international and regional
organizations.
17. The Parties expressed their readiness to further strengthen
cooperation in the framework of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization.
It was agreed that the Parties together with the member States of the
Organization will undertake an effort to complete at earliest the
accession process of Pakistan to the SCO as a full member. The Pakistan
side expressed its appreciation for Uzbekistan’s support in this matter.
18. Pakistan welcomed the forthcoming presidency of Uzbekistan at the
Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), and expressed its willingness
to assist in every possible way in conducting the 43rd OIC Foreign
Ministers meeting in Tashkent during the second half of 2016.
19. The Parties expressed their confidence that the understandings and
agreements reached during the visit will further deepen the cooperation
between the two countries for the well being of their peoples and mutual
prosperity.
The Prime Minister of Pakistan expressed his gratitude to the President
of Uzbekistan and the Uzbek people for the warm welcome and gracious
hospitality extended during the visit.
The Prime Minister of Pakistan invited the President of Uzbekistan to
pay a visit to Pakistan at his convenience. The dates of the visit shall
be agreed through diplomatic channels.
Islam Karimov Muhammad Nawaz Sharif
President of Prime Minister of the
the Republic of Uzbekistan Islamic Republic of Pakistan
