CHAIRMAN SENATE FOR MORE COMMERCE, TRADE LINKS BETWEEN PAKISTAN AND AZERBAIJAN

Islamabad: 26th April, 2012
Chairman Senate, Syed Nayyer Hussain Bokhari has underlined the need for more cooperation between Pakistan and Azerbaijan in fields of commerce and trade besides exploring new avenues of collaboration to work for the benefit of the people. He expressed these views while talking to Mr. Dashgin Mazi Oglu Shikarov, Ambassador of Azerbaijan who called on him at the Parliament House today.

Chairman said that Pakistan highly values its close brotherly ties with Azerbaijan which are based on deep historical, cultural and religious commonalities. He further said that both Islamabad and Baku should work together to build a strong mutually beneficial partnership through cooperation in the economic, commercial, cultural, defence and other fields. He also called for enhancing interaction among the Parliamentarian to boost inter-parliamentary relations and encouraging people-to-people contacts.

The Chairman Senate observed that both the countries have supported each other on various regional and international issues and have evolved principled positions on issues of Kashmir and Nagorno-Karabakh. The Chairman Senate expressed the desire to increase trade volume as there is huge scope for improvement in bilateral trade.

Ambassador of Azerbaijan thanked the Chairman Senate for the sentiments. He said that bilateral cooperation between Pakistan and Azerbaijan is getting momentum with passage of time. He agreed with the views of Syed Nayyer Hussain Bokhari that both the countries have to work closer to strengthen trade and economic ties. Exchange of delegations at different levels will provide an opportunity to learn from each others’ experience and sharing of expertise, Mr. Dashgin added.

He further stated that both Pakistan and Azerbaijan are non-permanent members of the United Nations Security Council, playing an active role and supporting each other on matters of mutual significance.

He appreciated the support of Government, Parliament and people of Pakistan on the issue of Nagorno-Karabakh and said that the Government of Azerbaijan fully supports Pakistan’s stance of Kashmir issue.The Ambassador also conveyed best wishes on behalf of the Speaker of Parliament of Azerbaijan and presented letter of invitation to Chairman Senate to visit Azerbaijan.

The Chairman Senate expressed his best wishes to the Government and people of Azerbaijan and hoped that the relationship between the two would usher into a new era of development and prosperity. ***********************************************