Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and Prime Minister of Pakistan Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif held a meeting and joint luncheon in Baku ahead of the celebrations marking the fifth anniversary of Azerbaijan’s Victory in the Patriotic War, Report news agency said.
President Aliyev welcomed the Pakistani leader upon his arrival at the Presidential Palace. The two leaders posed for a joint photo before beginning their talks in a narrow format.
During the meeting, President Aliyev thanked Prime Minister Sharif for attending the upcoming Victory Day military parade, describing his presence as a symbol of brotherhood between Azerbaijan and Pakistan.
Expressing gratitude for the invitation, Prime Minister Sharif congratulated President Aliyev and the people of Azerbaijan on the anniversary of their historic victory. He added that the capital city of Islamabad was illuminated with Azerbaijan’s tricolor flag in honor of the occasion.
“This gesture reflects the sincere friendship and solidarity between our nations,” Sharif said.
Both sides emphasized the continued development of brotherly relations across multiple sectors and highlighted the mutual support Azerbaijan and Pakistan provide each other in international organizations.
The meeting also reviewed the steady growth in bilateral trade, with leaders discussing new opportunities to expand economic cooperation in line with the close political partnership. President Aliyev noted that Azerbaijan’s application of preferential tariffs on Pakistani rice and 15 other products serves as an important driver of trade ties.
Officials also pointed to the successful meeting of the Intergovernmental Commission earlier this year and discussed ongoing cooperation in military and defense industries.
The two sides agreed to organize mutual visits of government and business delegations in the near future and explored the possibility of Pakistani companies participating in reconstruction projects in Azerbaijan’s liberated territories.
The meeting concluded with a reaffirmation of the countries’ shared commitment to deepening strategic cooperation and friendship.
