Baku, Islamabad highlight good prospects for expansion of cooperation
By Sara Rajabova
Pakistani President Mamnoon Hussain, who for the first time paid a visit to Azerbaijan, has been officially welcomed in capital, Baku.
A guard of honor was arranged for the distinguished guest in a square decorated with the national flags of the two countries on March 11.
Following the guard of honor chief’s report President Ilham Aliyev met with his Pakistani counterpart.
The national anthems of both Pakistan and Azerbaijan were played, after which the heads of state reviewed the guard of honor.
Then, President Hussain saluted Azerbaijani soldiers.
Azerbaijan’s state and government officials were introduced to President Hussain and members of the Pakistani delegation were introduced to President Aliyev.
Following the official welcoming ceremony, President Aliyev and his Pakistani counterpart held a one-on-one meeting.
During the meeting, the sides expressed satisfaction with the successful development of bilateral relations between the countries, which were based on friendship, cooperation and strategic partnership in all fields: political, economic, humanitarian and others.
The sides expressed confidence that President Hussain`s official visit to Azerbaijan would contribute to the strengthening of diplomatic ties. It was noted that there were good prospects for the expansion of cooperation between the two countries.
They also exchanged views over bilateral, regional and international issues.
After the one-on-one meeting, President Aliyev and President Hussain held a meeting in an expanded format.
A signing ceremony for Azerbaijani-Pakistani documents was held after the meeting in between both presidents.
President Aliyev and President Hussain signed the “Joint Declaration on Strategic Partnership between the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Islamic Republic of Pakistan”.
Dashgin Shikarov, Azerbaijani ambassador to Pakistan and Khalid Usman Gaiser, Pakistan ambassador to Azerbaijan also signed an agreement provisioning for the extradition of prisoners in between Azerbaijan and Pakistan.
Hafiz Pashayev, deputy Azerbaijani foreign minister and rector of ADA University and Amjad Hussain B. Sial, special secretary of Pakistan’s foreign ministry signed the “Cooperation Program (2015-2017) between ADA University of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Foreign Service Academy of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan”.
After the signing ceremony, President Aliyev and his counterpart made several statements to the press.
Following the joint press statements, a ceremony to present the high State Award of Pakistan - order of “Hilal-e-Pakistan” to Mehriban Aliyeva, Azerbaijan’s first lady and president of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation, was held. The order was handed by President Hussain.
Furthermore, President Aliyev hosted a dinner reception in honor of President Hussain.
Azerbaijan`s first lady Mehriban Aliyeva and Pakistan's first lady Begum Sahiba attended the reception.
Pakistan was among the first countries to recognize the independence of Azerbaijan on December 12, 1991. Diplomatic relations between the two countries were established on June 9, 1992. The Pakistan Embassy to Azerbaijan was opened on March 12, 1993.
Azerbaijani Embassy to Pakistan was opened on August 24, 1997.
Pakistan and Azerbaijan enjoy good relations in various spheres. Pakistan supported Azerbaijan during and after the Nagorno-Karabakh War and it is the only country that does not recognize Armenia.
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Sara Rajabova is AzerNews’ staff journalist, follow her on
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