Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif received a warm welcome on Monday as he arrived at the Zagulba Presidential Palace in Azerbaijan, where he was given a guard of honour.
This ceremonial reception was held ahead of his bilateral meeting with Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev. The prime minister is on a two-day official visit to Azerbaijan at the invitation of President Aliyev, marking his second visit since assuming office in March 2024.
As the national anthems of both Pakistan and Azerbaijan echoed through the palace grounds, a contingent of Azerbaijan’s armed forces stood in attention, presenting the guard of honour. After the formalities, Prime Minister Sharif and President Aliyev moved on to a bilateral meeting, followed by delegation-level talks to discuss various areas of mutual interest.
The primary focus of the discussions will be to enhance cooperation in economic, trade, and regional matters, as well as to explore new avenues for collaboration. The two leaders are expected to sign several Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) and agreements aimed at further strengthening the bilateral relations between the two nations.
Pakistan and Azerbaijan have long shared a bond of brotherhood, built on common values and goals. Both countries have expressed a desire to deepen these ties and foster closer economic collaboration, as well as increase regional cooperation. This visit highlights the commitment of both leaders to build upon the already strong relationship between their nations.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif is accompanied by a high-level ministerial delegation, which includes Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Muhammad Ishaq Dar, Minister for Commerce Jam Kamal Khan, Minister for Investment & Privatization Abdul Aleem Khan, Minister for Overseas Pakistanis & Human Resource Development Chaudhry Salik Hussain, Minister for Information & Broadcasting Ataullah Tarar, and Special Assistant to the Prime Minister Syed Tariq Fatemi.
