With prospects of a strong and lasting partnerships with regional countries in mind, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif held separate meetings with leaders from Kyrgyzstan, Belarus, and Turkmenistan on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Council of Heads of Government (CHG) meeting in Islamabad.
Key areas of focus included trade, investment, energy, and regional connectivity, as Pakistan aims to expand cooperation with these Central Asian neighbors. In his meeting with Kyrgyz Cabinet of Ministers Chairman Akylbek Japarov, the prime minister reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to enhance bilateral ties with Kyrgyzstan.
The two leaders stressed the need to explore new avenues of collaboration, and discussed areas where both countries could benefit, like trade, investment, and regional connectivity. Akylbek Japarov expressed his country’s desire to continue working with Pakistan to expand cooperation in areas of mutual benefit. He praised Pakistan for its warm hospitality and excellent organization of the SCO meeting.
He reciprocated Pakistan’s commitment and said that both sides had a shared interest in strengthening bilateral relations. On the occasion, he appreciated the long-standing brotherly ties between Pakistan and Kyrgyzstan. The two leaders called for increasing people-to-people contacts to bring both the nations further closer.
Shehbaz Sharif pitches idea for joint tractor production with Belarus
Shehbaz Sharif had a bilateral meeting with his Belarusian counterpart Prime Minister Roman Golovchenko, in which the two leaders discussed ways to increase cooperation in trade, investment, and joint production, especially in the agriculture sector. Pakistan has always admired Belarusian expertise in agricultural machinery and tractor production, so the host prime minister saw it as a potential area for collaboration.
The two leaders agreed that increased exchanges at the highest levels would help realize the full potential of these areas. Shehbaz Sharif recalled his earlier meeting with President Aleksandr Lukashenko in Astana last July, in which both the leaders had positive discussions on enhancing economic cooperation. He said that there was a need to build on that momentum, as sustained engagement between the two countries would yield mutual benefits.
Since Belarus has recently gained full membership in the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, it has presented Pakistan with new opportunities for collaboration within the framework of the organization. Roman Golovchenko said that Pakistan-Belarus relations were going in the positive direction, and his government was committed to strengthening the ties further. Both the leaders agreed to intensify cooperation in various sectors, especially when it comes to agricultural machinery and joint production of tractors.
Another important discussion took place between Shehbaz Sharif and Turkmenistan’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Rashid Meredov, who is also deputy chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers, and focused on increasing high-level exchanges to boost cooperation. During the meeting, the prime minister highlighted trade, energy, and connectivity as important areas for collaboration.
He reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to build stronger ties with Turkmenistan. Rashid Meredov congratulated Pakistan for successfully organizing the summit and conveyed the best wishes of the Turkmen leadership. He told the prime minister that his country wished to expand ties with Pakistan in various field, and subsequently increase regional cooperation, especially in the energy sector.