JOINT DECLARATION BETWEEN THE REPUBLIC OF UZBEKISTAN AND THE ISLAMIC REPUBLIC OF PAKISTAN

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

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