Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif was accorded a guard of honour at the Zagulba Presidential Palace in Azerbaijan on Monday as he began his two-day official visit aimed at strengthening bilateral ties between the two nations.
President Ilham Aliyev welcomed the Pakistani premier upon his arrival at the palace, where the national anthems of both countries were played before the formal reception by the Azerbaijani armed forces.
The visit marks PM Shehbaz’s second trip to Azerbaijan since assuming office in March 2024. He is accompanied by a high-level ministerial delegation, including Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, Minister for Commerce Jam Kamal Khan, and Minister for Investment and Privatisation Abdul Aleem Khan.
Following the reception, both leaders proceeded for a bilateral meeting, which was followed by delegation-level talks. Discussions covered a range of key areas, including trade, investment, energy cooperation, defence collaboration, and joint efforts to combat climate change.
During the visit, Pakistan and Azerbaijan have signed multiple Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) and agreements to boost economic and strategic partnerships. Officials say the agreements will focus on expanding trade, strengthening energy collaboration, and enhancing cultural and diplomatic exchanges.
As part of his engagements, PM Shehbaz will also attend the Pakistan-Azerbaijan Business Forum, where business leaders from both countries will explore opportunities for joint ventures and investment.
The forum is expected to facilitate business-to-business (B2B) collaboration across various sectors.
Pakistan and Azerbaijan share historically close ties, underpinned by mutual support on key global and regional issues.
The visit is seen as a step towards further deepening bilateral cooperation and advancing shared economic and strategic goals.
