ISLAMABAD, Dec 8: Pakistan and Kazakhstan have agreed to work towards strengthening of bilateral ties through increased trade and economic cooperation.

Kazakhstan’s President Nursultan Nazarbayev, who began a two-day visit of Pakistan on Monday, held a one-on-one meeting with President Gen Pervez Musharraf at the Aiwan-i-Sadr.

The two leaders emphasized the need of increasing interaction between the public and private sectors of the two countries.

They expressed the hope that bilateral agreements would lead to greater economic cooperation to the mutual benefit of both the nations.

President Musharraf briefed his Kazakh counterpart on investment opportunities that Pakistan, with its growing economy and a string of recent positive economic indicators, offers to foreign businessmen.

The two leaders exchanged views on regional and international matters of common interest. According to a statement issued to the press after the meeting, President Musharraf said the two countries had a comprehensive exchange of views on all matters of mutual interest.

“We discussed ways to augment the multi-faceted relations which encompassed all areas of mutual interest.”

The two sides agreed to enhance relations in political spheres as well as economic cooperation. The two countries, he said, decided to meet on a regular basis to further broaden and deepen their relationship.

President Musharraf said he has accepted the invitation extended by President Nursultan Nazarbayev to visit Kazakhstan.

The dates for the visit will be worked out between the two sides. He said Pakistan and Kazakhstan share perceptions on major global and regional issues.

President Musharraf expressed the hope that interaction of Kazakh businessmen with their Pakistani counterparts during the visit will enhance bilateral trade relations corresponding with the existing potential.

Earlier, Mr Nazarbayev was accorded a warm welcome at a ceremony when he arrived at the Aiwan-i-Sadr. President Musharraf received him on arrival.

The national anthems of the two countries were played. The Kazakh president reviewed the guard of honour presented by a contingent drawn from the armed forces.

After his arrival, Mr Nazarbayev told Foreign Minister Khurshid Kasuri that his visit will give a new impetus to the relations between Kazakhstan and Pakistan.—Agencies