PM Imran arrives in Dushanbe for SCO Summit

ISLAMABAD:

Prime Minister Imran Khan arrived in Dushanbe on Thursday on a two-day official visit to Tajikistan to attend the 20th Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO)'s Heads of State Summit.

Tajik Prime Minister Kokhir Rasulzoda received the premier who is being accompanied by a high-level ministerial delegation, that includes Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi, National Security Adviser Moeed Yusuf, Federal Minister for Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry, Federal Minister for Maritime Affairs Ali Zaidi and Adviser to Prime Minister on Commerce Abdul Razak Dawood.

Following his arrival, the prime minister met President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev in the capital of Tajikistan, and discussed matters of bilateral interest.

The meeting, held on the sidelines of the SCO Summit, focused on closed collaboration for the mutual benefit of two countries.

Pakistan and Kazakhstan enjoy cordial relations based on a common approach towards the world issues as well as bilateral understanding.

 

The premier will be holding bilateral meetings with other participating leaders as well during the summit.

After attending the moot, the premier will hold talks with Tajik President Emomali Rahmon. The talks would cover the entire gamut of bilateral relations, particularly enhancing trade, economic and investment ties with a focus on regional connectivity.

In the past, the two countries have expressed a strong commitment to enter a formal strategic partnership.

PM Imran will also inaugurate the first meeting of the Pakistan-Tajikistan Business Forum for which a group of Pakistani businessmen will visit Dushanbe.

The Joint Business Forum will catalyse growing trade and investment relations, promoting business contacts between the trading communities of both the countries.

A meeting of the Pakistan-Tajikistan Joint Business Council will also be held on the sidelines.

This is the third visit of the prime minister to Central Asia, underlining Pakistan’s enhanced engagement with the region.

In a video message released ahead of the premier's departure, Fawad stated that PM Imran was invited by the Tajik president to visit the country, and the two nations share close fraternal ties.

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Moreover, “the Afghan situation will be a key part of this conference”, he said, adding that Tajikistan’s role in Afghanistan is important and Pakistan recognises that.

“The visit to Tajikistan will strengthen our vision for a stable and comprehensive government in Afghanistan,” Fawad claimed

The minister maintained that Pakistan’s vision for stability in the region is central to the country’s foreign policy, and that the prime minister’s visit will be a milestone for it.

“PM Imran has always raised the dignity of Pakistanis when visiting foreign nations. The visit to Tajikistan will also be a link in the same chain,” Fawad Chaudhry said.

The information minister further informed that Prime Minister Imran Khan and President Putin had a detailed telephonic discussion, and a meeting between the two was expected soon, Fawad stated.

The Russian head of state was scheduled to attend the conference in person, but will be now be attending it via video link - President Putin had to self-isolate after various officials in his entourage tested positive for Covid-19.

This was Putin’s second telephone call in less than three weeks. Earlier, the Russian president had called PM Imran on August 25. Recalling their previous telephone conversation, the two leaders exchanged views on the latest developments in Afghanistan, a handout from the Prime Minister's Office stated.

The prime minister reiterated his invitation to the Russian president to visit Pakistan. Putin also renewed his invitation to Imran to undertake a visit to Moscow. The two leaders also agreed to remain in close contact.