Baku, February 24, 2025: Pakistan and Azerbaijan have reaffirmed their commitment to enhancing trade, strengthening defence cooperation, and expanding collaboration in various sectors, including transportation and connectivity.
During a joint press briefing on Monday, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev emphasized the importance of unlocking the full potential of bilateral trade and investment. Their remarks followed the exchange of pre-signed agreements on multiple projects.
Prime Minister Shehbaz welcomed Azerbaijan’s announcement of a $2 billion investment in Pakistan, highlighting its potential to bring economic benefits to both nations. He stated that a one-month timeline had been set to finalize agreements across various sectors, which are expected to be signed during President Aliyev’s visit to Pakistan in April.
“This will mark a significant leap in our trade and investment relations and will be a strong reflection of our fraternal ties,” Shehbaz said. “Previously, our business and investment ties did not reflect the true strength of our relationship, but today, we have taken a major step forward. In a month’s time, we will celebrate this achievement.”
President Aliyev acknowledged that bilateral trade turnover remained limited, amounting to only a few tens of millions of dollars. He stressed the need for expansion, stating, “We have identified a clear path to increase trade. We have received concrete project proposals from Pakistan, which our representatives are currently evaluating. Our goal is to finalize all discussions within a month so that by early April, agreements will be ready for signing.”
He further noted that these projects encompass infrastructure development, energy, mining, and other economic sectors.
The two leaders also discussed enhancing defence collaboration. President Aliyev reaffirmed Azerbaijan’s satisfaction with defence equipment procured from Pakistan and expressed interest in joint defence manufacturing, calling it an important area for future cooperation.
On connectivity and transportation, Aliyev highlighted the growing people-to-people ties between the two countries. “With regular airline connections, interactions between our nations will increase further,” he said.
President Aliyev commended Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s leadership, acknowledging Pakistan’s economic and political reforms. “Your hard work and the efforts of your team have brought significant progress, and as your brother and friend, we are pleased with Pakistan’s achievements,” he remarked.
Prime Minister Shehbaz expressed gratitude for Azerbaijan’s unwavering support for Kashmir, noting that it has been given “without any political conditions.” He reiterated hope that United Nations resolutions on Kashmir would be implemented in the near future.
Additionally, Shehbaz called for a permanent ceasefire in Gaza, stressing the urgency of transitioning from temporary pauses to a lasting resolution. “Now is the time to transform the current pause into a permanent ceasefire and realize the dream of a two-state solution,” he said.
