By Zahid Shah

ISLAMABAD (TSAT) - Uzbekistan President Shavkat Mirziyoyev will arrive on his two day visit to Pakistan at the invitation of Prime Minister Imran Khan on Thursday, according to the foreign ministry. 

President Shavkat will be accompanied by a high-level delegation, comprising the Foreign Minister, other members of the Cabinet, senior government officials, and business and media personnel. 

This will be the first visit of President Mirziyoyev to Pakistan since assuming office in 2016.

"The state visit of President Mirziyoyev would mark historic commemoration of the 30th anniversary of establishment of diplomatic relations between Pakistan and Uzbekistan. During the visit, the two leaders will review the entire gamut of bilateral relations including cooperation in political, trade and economic, connectivity, education, culture, security and defencedomains. They will have wide-ranging exchange of views on major regional and international issues. A number of bilateral Agreements/MoUs will be signed," said the Pakistan foreign ministry. 

He will hold one-on-one meeting with Prime Minister Khan which would be followedby delegation-level talks and Joint Media Stakeout.

Khan will also host a State Banquet in his honour. President Mirziyoyev will have separate meeting with the President of Pakistan Dr Arif Alvi.

"The two sides would focus on enhancing political and strategic linkages; fast tracking trade, transit and economic ties; enhancing connectivity; and promoting educational and cultural collaboration. The Trans-Afghan Railway Project, connecting Pakistan, Uzbekistan and Afghanistan, will be a key area of deliberations. There will also be fruitful interaction with leading businessmen of the two countries."

Pakistan and Uzbekistan are linked through common faith, shared history and cultural affinities. The two countries have been closely collaborating at regional and international fora, especially at the UN, OIC, ECO and SCO, its said. 

Prior to the President’s visit, the two sides hold the 7th Session of Joint Ministerial Commission and 2nd Joint Business Forum in Islamabad on Wednesday .

Pakistan has enhanced its engagement with Central Asian countries within the framework of “Vision Central Asia” policy, with five key strands:political and diplomatic, trade and investment, energy and connectivity, security and defence, and people-to-people relations, said the foreign ministry. 

The Pakistan-Uzbekistan relationship has witnessed an upward trajectory over the past few years. Prime Minister Imran Khan visited Uzbekistan in July 2021. The two leaders also met recently in Beijing on the sidelines of Winter Olympics Opening Ceremony on 5 February 2022, its added.