ISLAMABAD, September 16. /Dunyo IA/. Ambassador of Uzbekistan Alisher Tukhtaev held a meeting with Additional Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Pakistan Bilal Hayee, reports Dunyo IA correspondent.

At the beginning of the meeting, the Uzbek side briefed the Pakistani representative on the large-scale transformations being implemented in New Uzbekistan.

Particular attention was focused on activating political dialogue at the high and highest levels, expanding interparliamentary interaction, diversifying trade, economic and investment ties, as well as strengthening cultural and humanitarian cooperation.

Additional Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Pakistan highly appreciated the current level of bilateral relations, noting the stable political dialogue and trust-based contacts at the highest level. According to him, positive momentum is observed in the trade, economic sphere, transport, tourism and interregional cooperation.

“I am well aware of the reforms and significant results achieved under the leadership of the President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev. Tashkent is also one of Islamabad’s key partners in the region. In this regard, there is immense potential to further expand and impart a multifaceted character to bilateral relations”, Bilal Hayee noted.

He also described the “Babur Garden”, being established in Islamabad at the initiative of the President of Uzbekistan, as a symbol of the shared history and friendship between the two peoples, and a valuable gift from Uzbekistan to the Pakistani people.

During the negotiations, the parties reviewed the mechanisms for implementing the task set by the heads of the two states to bring the volume of mutual trade to $2 billion. To achieve this goal, the necessity of finding solutions to eliminate transport and logistics constraints and activating interaction between the business communities of the two countries was noted.

Special attention was focused on interregional cooperation. The Pakistani side positively assessed the visits of the leaders of the Tashkent and Navoiy regions, as well as the Republic of Karakalpakstan, to Pakistan earlier this year.

Parties also discussed the expansion of mutual travel between citizens. It was noted that the number of direct flights between Uzbekistan and Pakistan has reached eight, while a further increase in the number of flights will facilitate travel for tourists and entrepreneurs.

Following the meeting, the sides agreed to continue the diplomatic dialogue and discuss practical measures to realize the existing potential for cooperation.