Sharif to visit Azerbaijan on Thursday

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif will embark on a three-day visit to Azerbaijan on Thursday where he will discuss bilateral relations and economic cooperation, and exchange views on regional and international issues.

At the invitation of President Ilham Aliyev, this will be the first visit of Prime Minister Sharif to Azerbaijan from October 13 to 15. He will be accompanied by a high-level delegation, said a Foreign Office statement.

The visit to Azerbaijan is reflective of the prime minister’s vision to enhance and strengthen Pakistan’s relations with the neighbouring and regional countries, it said.

Pakistan accords high priority to its deep historical and cultural bonds with the regional countries and is committed to expand cooperative relations with them.

During the stay in Baku, the prime minister will hold talks with President Aliyev and Prime Minister Artur Tahir Rasizade.

The leaders will discuss bilateral relations with economic cooperation, including trade and investment, to be the key focus of their talks.

The two leaderships would also exchange views on regional and international issues of mutual interest, with particular attention to the situation in South Asia and Pakistan’s policy of peaceful neighbourhood.

A joint declaration is also expected to be signed during the visit.