PM proposes tripartite mechanism to boost Pakistan-Turkiye-Azerbaijan economic ties

• Turkiye and Azerbaijan presidents attend summit.
• Shehbaz affirms commitment to working together. 
• PM arrives in Astana to attend SCO summits.

ASTANA: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday proposed to establish tripartite institutional mechanisms particularly in economic and investment areas to further strengthen Pakistan-Turkiye-Azerbaijan trilateral economic and commercial cooperation.

Sharing his views during an inaugural session of Pakistan-Turkiye-Azerbaijan Trilateral Summit held on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit, the prime minister underscored that Pakistan deeply valued its fraternal ties with Azerbaijan and Turkiye which were grounded in deep-rooted cultural, historic and religious bonds as well as mutual respect and support towards each other on core issues.

The summit was attended by Premier Shehbaz, President of Turkiye, Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Azerbaijan President Ilham Heydar Aliyev.

PM Shehbaz welcomed the convening of inaugural session of Pakistan-Turkiye-Azerbaijan Trilateral Meeting at the summit level, the PM Office said in a statement.

He termed it as a natural progression of trilateral engagements amongst the three brotherly Muslim countries which shared a similar outlook on a host of issues of mutual interest and common concern.

The PM noted excellent trilateral cooperation in political, parliamentary and defence domains since the First Trilateral Meeting of Foreign Ministers of the three countries held in Baku in 2017.

He also affirmed Pakistan’s commitment to working together with Turkiye and Azerbaijan to elevate the tripartite cooperation into a strong multifaceted partnership across all areas of mutual interest including economic, energy, tourism, cultural, educational, technology and innovation, healthcare and environmental cooperation.

Emphasising strong bonds of friendship and robust people-to-people contacts amongst the three countries, the prime minister also outlined significant potential for collaboration in the areas of culture, tourism, academia as well as science and technology.

Pakistan, Turkiye and Pakistan have previously held trilateral consultations at the level of foreign ministers, speakers of parliaments and defence personnel.

PM Shehbaz arrived in Kazakhstan’s capital on Wednesday to attend the SCO Council of Heads of State (CHS) and SCO Plus summits.

On his arrival at Nursultan Nazarbayev International Airport, the prime minister was warmly received by Prime Minister of Kazakhstan Olzhas Bektenov, Deputy Prime Minister Alibek Bekayev, Ambassador of Pakistan to Kazakhstan Nauman Bashir, and other diplomatic personnel.